Department for Transport

Driving Licences: Older People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that drivers aged over 70 are able to drive whilst their licences are being renewed by the DVLA.

Rachel Maclean: The quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence at 70 is to use the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service at www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70. Drivers who have made an application to renew their driving licence may be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed, provided they meet certain criteria. More information can be found online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla

Aviation and Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the recommendation on page 22 of the Committee on Climate Change's 2020 Progress Report to Parliament, published in June 2020, whether he plans to formally include international aviation and shipping emissions within UK climate targets when setting the sixth carbon budget.

Rachel Maclean: Emissions from these sectors are a global problem requiring a global solution, and it is vital that we find an answer that reduces emissions globally - rather than simply displacing emissions elsewhere across the world.The UK will continue to lead the way to secure a solution that reflects the truly international nature of these sectors, and we are minded to include the targets in legislation subject to future progress in the International Maritime Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization.Last year, the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to require the UK to bring its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

A15: Dual Carriageways

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will put in place plans to dual sections of the A15 north of Lincoln to support economic development within the Humber sub-region; and if he will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: The A15 north of Lincoln is the responsibility of local highway authorities – Lincolnshire County Council and North Lincolnshire Council. It is for those authorities to prioritise areas of their networks for improvements, and to seek funding, if required. Government announced last month £4.5m towards the A15 (North) Asset Renewal project. This will resurface a section of the existing carriageway, reducing the need for disruptive road repairs and helping to support economic development within the Humber sub-region.

Travel: Coronavirus

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the list of countries that the Government asked the Scottish Government to agree to categorising as low risk on 2 July 2020 was different to that announced on 3 July 2020.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government shared the list of the countries it intended to exempt from the requirement for passengers to self-isolate with the Devolved Administrations at regular intervals as the policy developed. An updated country list was shared with the Devolved Administrations on 3 July, ahead of the public announcement.The Government will keep the conditions in these countries and territories under review. If they worsen we will not hesitate to reintroduce self-isolation requirements. The Government will continue to work closely alongside the Devolved Administrations on this policy.

Railways: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to invest in technology to assist with implementing social distancing on trains.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Train operators have taken a range of actions to encourage social distancing on trains, including the deployment of additional staff to assist passengers, new signage and frequent announcements on trains and in stations. The rail industry has also made a journey-planner app available to help train passengers identify quieter services and therefore better maintain social distancing.

Railways: Commuters

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of changing work patterns on commuter behaviour on the train network.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a fundamental change in working patterns and that this could have long-term effects on commuter behaviour. In order to support a green recovery and new working patterns, the Department is working with industry to explore already available options for flexible commuters, such as carnets, and what steps could be taken quickly to make these as useful and convenient for passengers as possible.

Travel: Coronavirus

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he had with the Northern Ireland Executive prior to the publication of the Written Statement of 6 July 2020, HCWS338 on Travel Corridors.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date the list of countries exempted from quarantine restrictions announced in the Written Statement of 6 July 2020 on Travel Corridors, HCWS338 was shared with the Northern Ireland Executive.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department provided the Northern Ireland Executive with the evidence submitted by the Joint Biosecurity Centre in relation to travel corridors in advance of the Written Statement of 6 July 2020, HCWS338 on Travel Corridors.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government engaged with the Devolved Administrations at regular intervals as the policy on travel corridors developed, including daily meetings between officials. Evidence from the Joint Biosecurity Centre was also shared ahead of the public announcement on 3 July and Written Ministerial Statement on 6 July. The Government is committed to working closely with the devolved administrations to ensure a coordinated approach on Travel Corridors across the United Kingdom.

Shipping

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial and other support he plans to provide to Maritime UK’s regional cluster development programme to enable coastal towns and cities to capitalise on global maritime sector growth opportunities.

Kelly Tolhurst: It is our belief that no other country globally can currently match the UK’s strengths in its maritime clusters. The Government recognises the significant role that clusters have in the regional and national economy, and also our international competitiveness. Therefore, in our ground-breaking Maritime 2050 strategy, we committed to promoting and enhancing our clusters in London and across the country, in places like Southampton, Liverpool, the Tyne, and across Scotland. We are working closely with Maritime UK, including its Regional Council, as we look to support the sector’s future recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic. We are working to identify where existing Maritime 2050 recommendations should be prioritised and the case for new ones where needed. Working together we can identify how best to continue to support the development and growth of our maritime clusters and the important role they play in our coastal communities and regions. The Department intends to publish a route-map setting out our post-Covid-19 plan later in the year.

Cycling and Walking: Oxford-Cambridge Arc

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Cycle and Walking Investment strategy funding has been allocated to the Oxford to Cambridge Arc since 2018.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Government funding for the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) includes ringfenced and non-ringfenced funds. On the 7th February 2020 the Department published the first CWIS report to parliament which provides details of the funding that has been made available to all local authorities for cycling and walking under various funding streams. In 2018/19 the Oxford to Cambridge Arc local authorities received a total of approximately £2 million of ringfenced funding from the Access Fund, Bikeability and the Cycle Safety Fund. Bedford, Peterborough and Northamptonshire also received support to develop Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPS). Cycling and walking funding figures for 2019/20 are not yet available. In the current financial year, the Government is also providing £225 million of funding to combined authorities and local transport authorities under the Emergency Active Travel Fund: details of allocations to all authorities are available via gov.uk.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to establish an air bridge for tourists between the UK and Thailand.

Kelly Tolhurst: Our approach to travel corridors has been guided by the science and we have worked closely with health and policy experts from across government to ensure the steps we are taking will minimise the risk of importing COVID-19 cases, while helping to open our travel and tourism sector. Although Thailand was not included in the travel corridors announced on 3 July, the Health Regulations relating to the self-isolation requirements remain under constant review. The next formal review will be on 27 July 2020.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation: Hydrogen

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to include hydrogen.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on reviewing and updating the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

Rachel Maclean: Renewable hydrogen supplied in the UK is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), a certificate trading scheme. It is categorised as a development fuel, which potentially benefits from a higher tradeable certificate value. The Department regularly monitors and reviews the RTFO to ensure it delivers cost effective carbon savings. Any future legislative proposals to amend the RTFO are subject to consultation and so would be subject to collective ministerial agreement.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether HS2 Ltd will use bentonite in the construction of High Speed Two Phase one.

Andrew Stephenson: As was stated in response to a previous question on this subject (160054) from the Honourable Member in July 2018, Bentonite is proposed to be used in the construction of the diaphragm walls for the 5 intermediate shafts in the Chilterns. If necessary, and only when the Environment Agency is satisfied with HS2 Ltd’s final approach, Bentonite may be used in other locations to minimise the impact of tunnelling on existing infrastructure.

Public Transport: Concessions

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of young people under 18 in low income families in (a) Camberwell and Peckham and (b) London who will have their free tube and bus travel suspended.

Rachel Maclean: The £1.6 billion Extraordinary Funding and Financing Agreement to enable Transport for London (TfL) to continue operating services contained a series of conditions to facilitate safe travel on public transport in London, including the temporary suspension of free bus travel for under 18s. The Department is working closely with TfL, the Department for Education and London Councils on how the temporary suspension can be operationalised. Any child eligible for free home to school travel under the Education Act 1996 will still receive this. The Department is also completing an Equality Impact Assessment, which will consider whether there are further categories of children that should receive free transport.

Cycling and Public Transport: Greater London

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase (a) cycling and (b) the use of public transport in (i) Camberwell and Peckham and (ii) London.

Rachel Maclean: The Government has agreed a £1.6 billion funding and financing package for Transport for London to enable them to continue to transport passengers safely across London, supporting the capital’s gradual recovery from COVID-19. The Department is committed to increasing cycling and walking as a way of enabling more people to move around safely while maintaining social distancing. This will help to relieve pressures on public transport as well as delivering other benefits. Southwark Council received a £100,000 tranche 1 allocation from the Active Travel Fund in June 2020 to support the installation of temporary projects for the Covid-19 pandemic and will shortly have the opportunity to make a further bid for tranche 2 funding.

Trains: Batteries and Hydrogen

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he is making on the phasing out of diesel rolling stock and its replacement with battery and hydrogen powered trains.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government supports use of battery and hydrogen powered trains on the railway to help deliver our target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Department is working with Network Rail and the rail industry to determine which parts of the network will be best suited to electrification, and which to those alternative technologies. This work will support the Department’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, to be published at the end of this year. The Government is supporting development of battery and hydrogen technology through innovation funding and research, including work on safety and wider issues that will have to be considered to allow the smooth entry into service on the network of battery and hydrogen trains.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Entertainments: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support (a) night clubs, (b) music venues and (c) other businesses in the night time service sector by providing financial relief commensurate with the longevity of the period that they have had to remain closed during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Government have put in place an unprecedented package of financial support to help businesses, including those in the hospitality and leisure sector, with the support they need during this difficult time of the covid-19 outbreak. Measures included deferring VAT payments for 3 months to support businesses with cashflow during the outbreak and extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October.We are committed to reopening creative businesses, including music venues, as soon as it is safe to do so. On 9 July, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced that from 11 July outdoor arts performances – including theatres, opera, dance and music – will be able to resume provided they are covid-secure.

Physiotherapy: Sports

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis is for the decision to delay the reopening of sports therapists in England; and what comparative assessment he has made between that evidence and that used by the devolved Administrations to reopen sports therapists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Paul Scully: We’ve now provided close contact services, including sports therapists in England except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the Government’s COVID-secure guidelines.We need to be confident services are able to reopen in a COVID-secure way for the staff and customers. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and our guidance has been developed with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).Hairdressers were the initial phase of safely reopening close contact services, and we are now assured that the necessary steps can be taken to reopen the rest of the sector.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to review the date for the reopening of (a) massage therapist, (b) reflexology and (c) other therapeutic services as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Paul Scully: We’ve now provided other close contact services like massage therapists, reflexologists and other therapeutic services in England except Leicester with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.We need to be confident services are able to reopen in a COVID-secure way for the staff and customers. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and our guidance has been developed with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Housing: Insulation

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the skills gap in the workforce required to retrofit the UK’s housing stock with insulation; and if he will take steps to close that gap.

Kwasi Kwarteng: A good supply of skilled workers is essential in order to meet our aspiration for as many UK homes as possible to be EPC Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. In 2018, the domestic and non-domestic energy efficiency sectors employed 153,600 people, but many more will be required. The Government has sponsored the development of Trustmark and PAS 2035 to ensure high standards among energy efficiency installers. The Government is further funding six local supply chain demonstration pilots to support development and training of the supply chain for home energy retrofit. We will continue to work with installers and training providers in order to grow the sector.

UK Research and Innovation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of the research and development funding that does not go through UK Research and Innovation is allocated to universities.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the contribution of UK charities to UK university research and development in each of the last three years.

Amanda Solloway: Information on the scale and sources of research grant income secured by universities is available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This data is collected on an annual basis from higher education providers and is available at https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances/income. Data for each of the last three years is provided in the table below:  £’000UK CharitiesUK central government bodies/local authorities, health and hospital authoritiesUK central government tax credits for research and development expenditureAcademies*HE Funding bodies Research GrantUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)2016-171,187,5501,006,73224,74888,251399,706---2017-181,231,6171,088,51215,28398,986390,2153,513,5712018-191,261,3081,116,781780113,683420,9753,875,371*The Royal Society, British Academy and The Royal Society of Edinburgh   In 2018-19, UKRI accounted for ca 70% of public funding for research from UK sources.

Place Advisory Group

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to publish the (a) minutes and (b) outcomes of the ministerial-chaired meetings with stakeholders in relation to the Place Advisory Group.

Amanda Solloway: Discussions with the new Place Advisory Group will inform the development of the ambitious new place strategy to be published in the autumn, as will further detailed discussions with the scientific community, industry, and civic organisations from across the country. We will consider what material will be made public by the Group as part of the Terms of Reference. We expect to finalise and publish the membership and Terms of Reference for the Group in due course.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Policy paper, UK Research and Development Roadmap, published on 1 July 2020, from which of his Department's budgets will funding be allocated to ARPA-style body to boost transformative research in the UK.

Amanda Solloway: We will invest at least £800 million to set up a unique and independent funding body that will back breakthrough technologies and basic research by experimenting with new funding models across long-term time horizons. We want to empower researchers to lead the world in the creation of new technologies, so we are currently in discussions with notable scientists and innovators to further develop and refine the design of the body. The funding for the new body and how it is allocated will be designed around the most appropriate model to deliver its vision, and the Department’s funding for future years from 2021-22 on will be allocated via the Spending Review.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to allocate additional funding to research departments at universities that are not in receipt of a teaching excellence framework award.

Amanda Solloway: Research funding allocations to universities from Research England are based primarily on the performance of their research departments under the Research Excellence Framework while project funding is allocated through competition, for example from the Research Councils. Research allocations are made irrespective of whether the university has been assessed through the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcome Framework. From the Autumn, Government will provide research-active higher education providers across the UK with a package of support to sustain research capacity which is at risk from income losses due to COVID-19, consisting of low-interest loans with long pay-back periods, supplemented by a small amount of government grants. This will cover up to 80% of a university’s income losses from international students for the academic year 20/21, up to the value of their non-publicly funded research activity. In order to be eligible, the provider in England must be an “Approved (Fee Cap)” provider registered with the Office for Students and already in receipt of Research England funding.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the announcement entitled, Government to protect UK research jobs with major support package, how many applications have been made for funding; and what proportion of the £200 million has been allocated.

Amanda Solloway: On 27 June, the Government announced two new support packages to protect research jobs and ground-breaking research projects impacted by coronavirus: from this autumn, UK universities will be able to access a series of government grants and long-term, low interest loans covering up to 80% of their income losses caused by an expected decline in international students, ensuring that their crucial research can continue.around £280 million government funding will be made available to universities impacted by coronavirus, allowing them to continue developing ambitious and innovative research projects. The package includes funding for costed grant extensions for the outstanding researchers funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, whose projects have been seriously impacted by COVID-19. It includes £180 million for UKRI, which will be awarded as a block grant allocation to 157 institutions. The allocation will be calculated pro rata to the total value of payments that organisations are profiled to receive between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, for competitively awarded grants with a planned end date during the same time period. Demand is expected to be high for the funding allocated by the National Academies, and we are working with the Academies to develop delivery mechanisms. The wider package of announcements will be available in the Autumn.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Fraud

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to prevent fraud in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what mechanisms he has put in place specifically to detect fraud in relation to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the administering bodies for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme on putting in place mechanisms and procedures to prevent and detect fraud in that scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there have been any reported incidences of fraud in relation to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many current investigations into fraud there are in relation to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: The Government takes the threat of fraud very seriously and a range of measures have been put in place to mitigate fraud and error risk for the loan schemes, including data and intelligence sharing arrangements, enabling us to work together and target known fraud threats. At scheme design level, the rules of the scheme set out minimum standards in relation to fraud which highlight action lenders are expected to take to identify fraudulent applications. The British Business Bank’s (BBB) audit function enables BBB to sample portfolios of lending to assess regularity and take action if required. For the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), we continue to work extensively with BBB and the lenders to strengthen the anti-fraud systems in place. For obvious reasons, I cannot go into specific detail about measures either in place or in development. For the same reason, it is not possible to release the number of fraudulent applications or associated investigations.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what mechanisms he has put in place to monitor the operation of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what due diligence assessment procedures have been put in place for the administering bodies of applicants for a Bounce Back Loan.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what procedures he has put in place to ensure probity in the administration of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: The British Business Bank (BBB) operates the BBLS via its group of accredited delivery partners. In order to become an accredited delivery partner, lenders must provide a detailed submission, providing information on the applicant’s organisation and its intended use of the BBLS. The BBB then conducts due diligence, assessing the applicant’s business, governance, risk management and compliance frameworks. Before being able to commence lending via the Scheme, a Lender will then be required to complete a number of preparatory steps. Firstly, the BBLS Guarantee Agreement must be signed by the Lender. This is a standard agreement, with limited scope to negotiate changes. The BBB will then provide the Lender with training on use of the BBB Reporting System, as well as general training and communications materials on how the Scheme works. Accredited lenders must provide records of all eligible transactions on the BBB Reporting System in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with the guidance issued. The BBB Reporting System records details, the amount and terms of the lending, any extension of the terms of the lending, borrower default and claims against the guarantee of all BBLS-supported facilities. Lenders are also subject to periodic audits, whereby samples of transactions will be analysed during the audit to check that Scheme eligibility rules and processes have been followed. This reporting, alongside other information on the performance of the Scheme and accredited lenders is fed into various governance fora including BBB, BEIS and HMT officials, as well as regular briefings to BEIS and HMT Ministers. Statistics showing the take up of the BBLS are published weekly by HM Treasury.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies in receipt of a Bounce Back Loan have (a) ceased trading and (b) entered into administration.

Paul Scully: As of 5 July, over 1 million loans have been issued under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), with a total value of £31 billion. We are currently unable to provide a breakdown on the number of companies in receipt of a Bounce Back Loan that have ceased trading and entered into administration.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) financial and (b) security checks are made of (i) owners or (ii) directors of multiple companies seeking loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme for each of the companies in which they have a financial stake.

Paul Scully: A single business will not be eligible for multiple Bounce Back Loans; however, an individual who owns a number of separate businesses which do not fall under the same group, may apply for a Bounce Back Loan for each separate business entity. Business owners are required to self-certify that their business meets the eligibility criteria for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). Any individual that knowingly provides false information is at risk of criminal prosecution for fraud. Applications from eligible borrowers will also be subject to customer fraud, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) checks.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether English language schools are eligible for support through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: Businesses in England that would have been in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) on 11 March with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property via the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). The Expanded Retail Discount scheme is targeted at properties that are wholly or mainly being used:as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues;for assembly and leisure; oras hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation. Guidance on the Expanded Retail Discount was published on 25 March 2020. Local authorities are responsible for implementing the discount in line with the guidance.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-retail-discount-guidance Officials are keeping in close contact with local authorities to monitor the progress of the grant scheme and regarding the operation of the business rates system. Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the RHLGF should be directed to the relevant local authority. On 1 May, the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made available to local authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants to support businesses based on local economic priorities and not directly tied to the business rate system. Clearly, this funding is under pressure and local authorities are to individually decide which businesses to support, within the eligibility criteria set by Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding ELT businesses and individuals within this sector continue to have access to a range of additional support measures including, but not limited to:Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate reliefThe Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan SchemeThe Bounce Back Loan Scheme for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 – with the option for the Government to extend if needed. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many local authorities have made Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant payments to English language schools; whether his Department has contacted local authorities that have not made those payments; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: As of 5 July, £10.65 billion has been paid out to over 867,600 business properties under the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). The grant schemes replicate the eligibility for the specific rate relief schemes. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to the guidance issued by government, and to deliver grants to businesses that are in scope. We do not hold sector-specific data from local authorities on grant payments. We have, however, published a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses. We are working closely with all local authorities to deliver remaining funding to businesses that are in scope of the two schemes as quickly as possible, while safeguarding public funds. As part of this, we have provided detailed guidance and FAQs, regular briefings and one-to-one support from ministers and officials, as well as a communications toolkit to help local authorities reach remaining businesses.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many loans have been issued under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the value is of the loans granted under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average amount is of loans issued under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) has been introduced to help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2000 and £50,000. As of 5 July, 1,013,410 loans have been approved under the BBLS, with a total value of £30.93 billion. Banks are reporting that the average loan is around £30,000.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) turnover and (b) number of employees is of companies awarded loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: At this time, we are unable to provide a breakdown of the turnover and number of employees at companies awarded loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). We are working with HM Treasury and the British Business Bank to consider what further data can be made available in the future.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies in each (a) industrial sector and (b) region of the UK have been awarded a loan under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: As of 5 July, 1,013,410 loans have been approved under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), with a total value of £30.93 billion. At this time, we are unable to provide a breakdown of lending or number of applications by region or sector. The BBLS has been designed to be accessible across the UK and lenders have been accredited across the UK’s nations and regions.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to provide additional funding for schemes to support business affected by covid-19 that are owned by (a) minorities and (b) women.

Paul Scully: The Government is committed to ensuring people from all backgrounds and regions benefit from the Government’s access to finance schemes. A diverse and inclusive ecosystem is good for entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and society as a whole. The Department’s Ministerial team is also actively engaging with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) business community on a regular basis to cover multiple issues, including access to finance. The Future Fund provides government co-investment to innovative businesses. As of 5 July, 376 convertible loans worth a total of £380 million have been approved under the scheme. The British Business Bank (BBB) published diversity data for the Future Fund on 23 June 2020, which showed that companies with BAME-only and mixed ethnicity management teams accounted for over 55% of applications, valued at £118.5m, and that 79% of funding had been issued to companies with mixed gender management teams.The Future Fund is also a signatory of the Investing in Women Code and encourages co-investors to do the same. The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme had delivered more than 73,600 loans to entrepreneurs by the end of May 2020, providing more than £609 million of funding. Of these, 40 per cent of these loans have gone to women, and 25 per cent of the total were to applicants from a BAME background. The Government’s loan schemes to support businesses affected by Covid-19, including the Bounce Back Loan schemes, are open to all businesses which meet the eligibility criteria, including those owned by women as well as those owned by people from a BAME background. We will monitor the implementation and take up of the schemes.

Physiotherapy: Coronavirus

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason Soft Tissue Therapists are not able to return to work on 6 July 2020 as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Paul Scully: There is clearly a risk of greater transmission in close proximity services. That is why we have had to phase their introduction. We had to make difficult choices to keep the R rate below 1. We’ve now provided close contact services like Soft Tissue Therapists in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the reopening of beauty salons as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Paul Scully: We have now provided other close contact services like beauty salons in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.We need to be confident services are able to reopen in a COVID-secure way for the staff and customers. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and our guidance has been developed with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to review the criteria for distributing and allocating funding through the Discretionary Grant Fund to local councils for supporting businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. Local authorities are responsible for defining the precise eligibility for this Fund and may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need, subject to those businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria. We are asking local authorities to prioritise the following types of businesses for grants from within this funding pot:Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include units in industrial parks, science parks, and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment.Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment.Bed & breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates.Charity properties in receipt of Charitable Rate Relief, which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Businesses already in receipt of the Small Business grant or a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant are not eligible for this fund. Businesses who are eligible for or in receipt of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme are now eligible to apply for this scheme. There is currently no plan to change eligibility criteria for this scheme. Officials are keeping in close contact with local authorities to monitor the progress of the scheme. Guidance for Local Authorities was published 13 May: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding.

Rainforests: Brazil

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to his Brazilian counterpart on the (a) continued deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, and (b) effect of that deforestation on UK businesses operating in Brazil.

Kwasi Kwarteng: I am concerned by data that suggests a recent increase in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, and am aware of concerns raised by UK business and consumers on risks to supply chains. Government officials working in London and Brazil routinely monitor deforestation rates and risks. We have a long-established government partnership with Brazil to tackle deforestation, promote sustainable growth and mitigate climate change, and supported by £200m of UK International Climate Finance. This includes promoting business models that can be scaled up, like a proposed green bond to help Brazilian farmers avoid moving into pristine territory, under our UK Partnerships for Forests programme, and international partnerships to incentivise at scale the protection of standing forests through REDD Early Movers. This complements UK diplomatic and technical dialogue in Brazil, working at the Federal and State levels of Brazilian Government. The HMG-convened UK Roundtable on Sustainable Soy has also been an important forum for UK businesses and consumers to work together to engage Brazilian partners on ensuring resilient, sustainable trade. The UK stands ready to support Brazil’s current and future efforts to counter increasing deforestation rates, including as new global ambition is considered for a successful UK COP26 Presidency.

Meat: Coronavirus

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the level of safety in the meat industry; what the evidential basis is for the Government's policy on the risk of covid-19 infection among workers in the meat industry; and what steps he is taking to protect those workers from that risk.

Paul Scully: The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has convened a cross-Government taskforce, and all partners are working collaboratively in that group. The Health and Safety Executive - who are also a member of the Taskforce are responsible for the health and safety of workers.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to include heat pumps in the Green Homes Grant.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In his Summer Economic Update, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £2bn Green Home Grant scheme that will support homeowners and landlords in England to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions, and supporting a green economic recovery.The funding will be spent on paying for accredited tradespeople to install a range of measures, for example insulation, to improve the energy performance of their homes. Further detail on the range of measures will be announced in the coming days, before the scheme’s full launch.

Businesses: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to publish in full the scientific advice underpinning the Government's policy on which businesses can and cannot currently reopen following their closure due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Ministerial Taskforces have been getting scientific input from Public Health England (PHE), who have been directly involved in the taskforce meetings, helping to resolve scientific issues as they draft the guidance. Each individual working group which produced the guidance published on 11 May had active PHE presence, and each set of guidance was produced in collaboration with them, the Health and Safety Executive and other Departments. That model was followed for both the pubs and restaurants, close contact services, and non-essential retail taskforces. The PHE staff who have supported the BEIS taskforces are in regular direct contact with those attending SAGE and have access to the PHE SAGE read-outs. They have endeavoured to reflect closely the SAGE recommendations and have also been responsible for putting some subjects pertinent to BEIS discussions to SAGE, such as persistence of COVID-19 on surfaces, and consideration of social distancing requirements under different scenarios. SAGE information is shared on its website: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish (a) a timetable and (b) guidance for the re-opening of (i) beauty salons, (ii) nail bars, (iii) tanning salons,(iv) massage studios, (v) reflexology centres, (vi) complementary therapy centres, (vii) photography studios, (viii) tattoo studios, (ix) swimming pools, (x) gyms, (xi) soft play centre, (xii) bowling alleys, (xiii) sports halls and (xiv) dance schools that are currently unable to reopen following their closure due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in his speech on 3rd July, stated that a timetable for the reopening of closed sectors would be set out this week. The Prime Minister was clear he can only lift those remaining, national restrictions as and when it is safe to do so. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now provided close contact services in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released new guidance to enable competitive grassroots sport to be played – starting with cricket from 11 July. DCMS also stated that outdoor pools can reopen to the public from 11 July followed by indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres on 25 July. The Government will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best to reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by science.

Businesses: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support the Government plans to provide to those businesses that cannot currently reopen following their closure due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Government’s priority has been to act to reduce the high levels of Covid-19 infection and this is the best way to support businesses. The sooner the spread of the virus is controlled, the sooner businesses and communities can move towards reopening. The Government has introduced a comprehensive package of support to help businesses during this difficult period. These include the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, deferral of VAT and income tax payment, and more. As of 5 July, 1.1 million employers have taken advantage of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), totalling claims of £27.4 billion and safeguarding 9.4 million jobs. The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been accessed by 2.7 million individuals . Over 867,600 businesses have claimed £10.65 billion through the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF), and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). As of 5 July, 1.1 million businesses have accessed over £45 billion worth of coronavirus loans, backed by Government guarantees. These range from loans of £,2000, to £200 million. There has been significant support to date, and there is still funding to be disbursed. BEIS will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand whether there is additional need. Ultimately it is only by controlling the virus that the lockdown can be lifted, allowing businesses to re-open and operate more normally.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will include ground source heat pumps in the Green Homes Grant.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In his Summer Economic Update, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £2bn Green Home Grant scheme that will support homeowners and landlords in England to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions, and supporting a green economic recovery.The funding will be spent on paying for accredited tradespeople to install a range of measures, for example insulation, to improve the energy performance of their homes. Further detail on the range of measures will be announced in the coming days, before the scheme’s full launch.

Buildings: Heating

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason he decided to restrict future funding support to heat pumps in smaller buildings.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Heat pumps will play an important role in decarbonising heat in the UK. The Clean Heat Grants scheme is focussed on supporting the installer base that will be required to implement regulations to phase out the installation of high-carbon fossil fuel heating off the gas grid. The Government is committed to doing this during the 2020s, as set out in the Clean Growth Strategy. In order to target taxpayer funding most effectively, we propose to introduce a 45kW capacity limit to focus this scheme on smaller installations. This reflects evidence that the majority of heat pump installations supported under the Renewable Heat Incentive have a capacity less than or equal to 45kW. The Clean Heat Grant has been designed as part of a broader package of measures to support the decarbonisation of heat. Alongside the Clean Heat Grant scheme, the Budget announced future support for large heat pump installations in heat networks through the Green Heat Network Scheme. BEIS will consult on this scheme later in the year. The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund will also be open to large heat pumps providing process heat. In addition, as part of the Summer Economic Update made on 8 July, the government committed £1 billion of funding for the new Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to upgrade public sector buildings, including schools and hospitals. This forms part of the wider manifesto commitments to invest in low-carbon heat and energy efficiency in buildings over the next decade.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the feasibility of enabling beauty salons that have adequate (a) safety measures and (b) personal protective equipment to re-open as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Paul Scully: We have now provided close contact services – like beauty salons – in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Clothing: Manufacturing industries

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken in response to the recommendations set out in paragraph 50 of the Sixteenth Report of the 2017-19 Session of the Environmental Audit Committee entitled Fixing Fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability, HC1952, to (a) pursue a more proactive approach to the enforcement of the national minimum wage and (b) provide HMRC’s National Minimum Wage team with greater resourcing to increase their inspection and detection work with regard to workers in the garment industry receiving less than the minimum wage and suffering serious breaches of health and safety law in their workplace.

Paul Scully: The Government is deeply concerned by the reports of illegal and unsafe working conditions for textile workers in Leicester, especially in light of the recent increase in COVID-19 infections.The main labour market enforcement bodies (the HMRC National Minimum Wage team and the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority), as well as the Police and the Health & Safety Executive, have been working closely with Leicester Council to set up the Leicester Compliance Task Force. The key aims of the taskforce is to address broader labour market and health and safety issues by using local knowledge to improve understanding of the exploitation risks, increase awareness, support victims and ensure compliance.Since 2017, a number of operations have been undertaken in the Leicester area linked to potential exploitation, including underpayment of the minimum wage. Where breaches have been found appropriate enforcement action has been taken, including warning letters, recovery of unpaid wages, penalties, and director disqualifications.The Government has more than doubled the budget for National Minimum Wage compliance and enforcement to £27.5 million for 2020/21, up from £13.2 million in 2015/16. Increasing the budget allows HMRC to focus on tackling the most serious cases of wilful non-compliance. It also increases the number of compliance officers available to investigate minimum wage complaints and conduct risk-based enforcement in sectors where non-compliance is most likely.

Post Office: Subsidies

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to make an announcement on its decision on the future of public subsidies for Post Office Limited after March 2021.

Paul Scully: The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK, which is why we committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. Successive Governments have invested over £2 billion in the Post Office network since 2010. Looking at the future, the Government remains committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the network and will continue working with Post Office Ltd to achieve this. Future subsidy requirements will be considered within the Government's fiscal framework.

Coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to make further funding available for the coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Paul Scully: The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). As of 5 July, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have paid out over £41.8 million in grants to 3,788 business premises under the SBGF and RHLGF. On 1 May, the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. Under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF), Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have an additional £2.1 million to deliver to further small businesses. We appreciate that there is substantial demand for the LADGF, and the scheme will not be able to support every business. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council will need to manage their scheme to stay within their funding allocation and will have to make choices about which businesses to prioritise. Officials are keeping in close contact with Local Authorities to understand how the schemes are rolling out and advising ministers on any additional support which could be offered to help businesses and support local economies. No decisions have yet been taken, but the level of demand will continue to be monitored.

Aerospace Industry: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the financial recovery of the UK aerospace sector after the covid-19 outbreak.

Nadhim Zahawi: The aerospace industry is benefiting from the Government’s £330 billion of Covid-19 support, which includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The aerospace and aviation sectors are also benefiting from support through UK Export Finance, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility, and grants for research and development. We remain in active discussion with aerospace businesses, including at sector level through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to do all we can to help industry through the Covid-19 pandemic and back to growth.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the average time taken for banks to process applications to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he categorises aesthetics and wellbeing businesses in the beauty industry; what businesses it categorises in the beauty industry; and what his timetable is for those businesses reopening.

Paul Scully: Government has published a list of business types that fall under the close contact services guidance. All businesses that provide cosmetic procedures or treatments for aesthetic and beauty purposes fall into the definition of a beauty salon. We have now provided close contact services in England, except Leicester, with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Biofuels: Finance

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of retaining the requirement of minimum energy efficiency standards for new biomass plants in future contract for difference projects.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In June 2018 the Government published Part A of the response to the December 2017 consultation on proposed amendments to the Contracts for Difference scheme. This stated that the Government intended to require all dedicated biomass with CHP, and energy from waste with CHP, schemes applying for new support contracts under the Contract for Difference scheme to have a minimum overall efficiency of 70% (net calorific value).

Physiotherapy: Coronavirus

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the reopening of soft tissue therapist businesses.

Paul Scully: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy discusses a wide range of topics and policy issues with ministers across Government, including the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We have now provided other close contact services like massage therapists, reflexologists and other therapeutic services in England except Leicester with the certainty they need to reopen from Monday 13 July, subject to them following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Engineering

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what discussions he ahs had with the Prime Minister on the proposals put to the Government to support the future of British engineering through the Brunel Challenge; and if he will take steps to provide support for the Brunel Challenge slingshot proposal put forward by the UK aerospace, defence, maritime, automotive and atomic energy sectors.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government recognises the value of British engineering capability and innovation. That is why we have already invested nearly £2 billion in the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, providing advice on market opportunities and technology. We have also committed with industry around £1 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, to research, develop, and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies to keep the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations. We are also supporting the innovation of digital design through the £147 million Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge. At the last Budget, we set out plans for public investment in research and development to reach £22 billion each year by 2024/25, which is a record increase in spending. As part of the upcoming Spending Review we will consider proposals for this investment, of which the Brunel Challenge and slingshot is one of many.

Aerospace Industry and Defence: Manufacturing Industries

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the proposal submitted by ADS to the Government to establish a supply chain fund to support businesses in the aerospace and defence sectors; and if he will take steps to provide Government support for that initiative.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are in regular discussions with aerospace companies and ADS Group, through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to consider what additional support the sector might need.We are supporting investment in innovation and competitiveness by small and medium-sized businesses in the supply chain through our National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme, Sharing in Growth, and SC21 Competitiveness and Growth productivity programmes, which will receive over £135 million of public funding.

Aircraft

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2020 to Question 59434, what progress has been made in assessing proposals for a scrappage scheme for older civil passenger aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The initial proposal from industry for a scrappage scheme for older civil large passenger aircraft was an outline. We assessed that it required further development in order for us to properly consider its potential impact on the UK aerospace and aviation industries. Discussions with industry are ongoing.

Aircraft

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the aviation industry on plans for producing the world's first net zero long-haul passenger plane; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Aerospace Technology Institute research programme supports zero emission aircraft research projects. We have held discussions with industry, including through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, about accelerating the development of clean aerospace technologies. Further discussion will take place through the Jet Zero Council, which will bring together Ministers and airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, fuel suppliers, academia, and environmental groups to provide leadership and strategic direction to position the UK as a global leader in clean aviation.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the £100 million funding for Direct Air Capture R&D announced in the Plan for Jobs is part of the £22 billion R&D funding announced in Budget 2020; and who will be responsible for distributing that funding.

Kwasi Kwarteng: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced up to £100 million for new research and development of Direct Air Capture on June 30th. Part of this will be funded through the more than £1bn announced in Budget 2020 by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer for Net Zero Innovation to stimulate commercial activity in this essential technology. As with the current £505 million Energy Innovation Portfolio, this will be distributed by BEIS. The other part will be distributed by UKRI under its Strategic Priorities Fund, to accelerate innovation by universities. The new funding is part of the Government’s ambitious plans to increase public research and development (R&D) investment to £22 billion per year by 2024 to 2025 announced in Budget 2020. Later this year, the Spending Review will provide the opportunity for the government to set out further detail on the long-term priorities for R&D investment as part of those plans.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Human Rights

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to reports of the forced sterilisation of the Uighur people by the Chinese authorities, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on potential breaches of human rights in that country.

Nigel Adams: We are aware of reports that the Chinese Government is using forced sterilisation to minimise Uyghur birth rates. These reports add to our concern about the situation in Xinjiang. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. Additionally I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, these reports add to our concern about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and we are considering them carefully.On 30 June, the UK read out a statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting concerns about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions in Xinjiang.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Coronavirus

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to Procurement Policy Note 04/20: Recovery and Transition from COVID-19, published on 9 June 2020, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of maintaining the provision of contractual relief as a result of covid-19 in line with Procurement Policy Notice 02/20; which (a) companies and (b) work areas will be affected by changes to that contractual relief; and what the timeframe is for proposals to change that contractual relief.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office previously considered and applied Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 02/20 from end of March 2020 onwards. All Relief measures agreed under PPN02/20 ended by 30th June 2020. Throughout the aforementioned period any suppliers seeking financial relief have been risk assessed by a dedicated team within the Commercial Directorate. Where relief has been considered we have applied contract change practices to ensure measures are time limited, offer transparency of costs and are able to transition to a new operational approach for that contract. All relief measures sought under PPN04/20 are to be re-assessed to test necessity and proportionality of relief to ensure maintenance of critical services.We are working in partnership with our suppliers to develop transition plans to exit from any relief arrangements as soon as reasonably possible, including the agreement of contract variations. By the end of Oct 2020 we expect suppliers to have resumed services in line with new operational requirements and all associated relief should end by this date. This is in addition to working with all our key suppliers to review Business Continuity Plans in line with the impacts of COVID-19, potential future waves, ensuring rapid payment of invoices to maintain cash flow and protect services.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department is making to the Government of Pakistan regarding freedom of religion and belief for minority communities in that country.

Nigel Adams: We regularly raise our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and the protection of minority communities, including religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level.Most recently, the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised our concerns about FoRB with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 5 June. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan raised our concerns about FoRB with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights on 8 June. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan at senior levels to guarantee the fundamental rights of its citizens, regardless of their belief.The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, Rehman Chishti MP, has previously met the Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK to look at FoRB issues.

Gulf States: Political Prisoners

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the letter of 23 June 2020 to him, from 10 hon. Members on securing the release of human rights activists (a) Loujain AlHathloul in Saudi Arabia, (b) Ahmed Mansoor in the UAE and (c) Dr Abduljalil AlSingace in Bahrain, what (i) public and (ii) private representations he has made to his (A) Saudia Arabian, (B) Emirati and (C) Bahraini counterpart on securing the release of (1) those people and (2) other people imprisoned for peacefully opposing their governments.

James Cleverly: We have raised the cases of Loujain al-Hathloul, Ahmed Mansoor and Abduljalil al-Singace at senior levels with the Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini authorities respectively. The UK urges all countries to comply with their human rights obligations. Our close relationship with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain allows us to discuss important issues such as human rights.We consistently underline the importance of political freedoms globally. This includes respect for the right to peaceful protest, the rule of law, and freedom of speech, the press, and assembly. We continue to raise concerns about individual cases regularly. Where the UK has cause for concern, we raise these concerns at official and Ministerial level.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the recent airstrikes in Northern Yemen; and what steps he is taking to support a ceasefire across Yemen.

James Cleverly: The UK takes these alleged incidents extremely seriously. Whenever we receive reports like this, we routinely gather information from all credible sources, including from Non-Governmental Organisations and international organisations. We continue to work to support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to secure the parties' agreement to proposals for a nationwide ceasefire and a resumption of the UN-led political process. Given the threat of COVID-19 it is important that the parties continue to engage constructively with Griffiths's proposals. On 18 June, I spoke with senior Yemeni leaders during a "virtual visit" and called for urgent action to secure peace and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quantity and quality of evidence collected to secure prosecutions related to sexual violence in conflict.

Nigel Adams: The UK remains at the forefront of global efforts to tackle conflict-related sexual violence through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). The UK launched the draft Murad Code on documenting conflict-related sexual violence to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, on 19 June. Developed together with Nobel Peace Laureate and campaigner against sexual violence, Nadia Murad, this code of conduct will respect survivors' rights and ensure investigation of sexual violence crimes is safer, more ethical, and more effective. By adhering to the Code, governments, international organisations, civil society, and other actors will uphold international standards, which in turn will strengthen the collection of evidence in order to secure prospections.The Murad Code is part of the UK's commitment to strengthening justice for all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, also demonstrated by UK-funded efforts of TRIAL International to improve access to legal support for survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the work of UNITAD in gathering evidence of Daesh crimes in Iraq.

India: Coronavirus

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals have been detained in India under Coronavirus laws in that country.

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consular contact his Department has provided to UK nationals in India detained under Coronavirus laws in that country.

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safe return of UK citizens in India who have been detained under coronavirus laws in that country.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 09 July 2020



We are aware that British Nationals have been detained across India for breaching coronavirus lockdown laws. One has since returned to the UK and we are in contact with all of the others. We have raised individual medical and welfare concerns with the Indian authorities. Following the conclusion of their legal cases, we will assist with their return to the UK.

USA: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the US Administration's decision to purchase global supplies of Remdesivir for the treatment of patients with covid-19, what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with his international counterparts on the need for global co-operation in tackling the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The Coronavirus outbreak is the biggest public health emergency in a generation, and needs a strong and coordinated global health response. Remdesivir has been used in the NHS for some time as part of clinical trials, and as part of the Early Access to Medicines Scheme to get COVID-19 treatments to patients who need them. The NHS has sufficient stock of Remdesivir for patients who need it. Gilead has also signed non-exclusive voluntary licencing agreements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in Egypt, India and Pakistan, ensuring supply of Remdesivir for 127 low-and middle-income countries.The UK Government is working closely with our international partners, including the United States, to deliver a robust global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Ministers and diplomatic network continue to galvanise international support and financial commitments to support research, development and equitable access to vaccines, including through the G7, G20 and other international fora.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make urgent representations to the Government of Bahrain opposing the death sentences on (a) Mohammed Ramadhan and (b) Hussain Moosa.

James Cleverly: We are concerned by the death sentences handed to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa. We continue to raise both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We continue to monitor their case, as it is taken to the Court of Cassation for final review.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on (a) Mohammed Ramadhan, (b) Hussain Moosa and (c) other prisoners who have been sentenced to death in Bahrain.

James Cleverly: We are concerned by the death sentences handed to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa. We continue to raise both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We continue to monitor their case, as it is taken to the Court of Cassation for final review.

Thailand: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria was used to exclude Thailand from the list of countries exempt from quarantine measures.

Nigel Adams: A list of countries and territories from which passengers arriving in England will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days was published on 3 July. This follows the Government's first review of public health measures at the border, which were introduced in June 2020. The Government has always been clear that any decisions on border measures will be proportionate and science-led.We are continuing to engage with all partners on all aspects of the global response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Kashmir: Politics and Government

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to hold a meeting to call for India to comply with international law on the Kashmir dispute.

Nigel Adams: The longstanding position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. We encourage both sides to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability.

Operation Blue Star

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many documents held by Government that were relevant to the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple, Amritsar have been destroyed.

Nigel Adams: No centrally held files, produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) South Asia Department or diplomatic network in India, that relate to the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, have been destroyed or identified for destruction under the Public Records Act. The FCO reviews all of its files in compliance with the Act and files of permanent historical value are transferred to The National Archives.A wider check on the titles of destroyed files belonging to other FCO departments or across wider government is not possible due to the disproportionate cost this would incur because the information is not held centrally.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on (a) Mohammed Ramadhan, (b) Hussain Moosa and (c) other prisoners facing death sentences in Bahrain.

James Cleverly: We are concerned by the death sentences handed to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa. We continue to raise both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We continue to monitor their case, as it is taken to the Court of Cassation for final review.

Chile: Riot Control Weapons

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to assess whether export licenses of (a) crowd control equipment and (b) ammunition to Chile have resulted in a clear risk that the export might be being used for internal repression.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has taken steps to review whether past export licenses of (a) crowd control equipment and (b) ammunition to Chile are consistent with criterion 2 of the Consolidated Criteria.

James Cleverly: We continue to monitor developments in Chile closely. The UK Government considers all our export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework and keep all licences under careful and continual review as standard. We rigorously examine each export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Risks around human rights violations or abuses are a key part of our assessment. The UK Government does not approve export licences for equipment and technology where we assess there is a clear risk that it might be used for internal repression.

Yemen: Coronavirus

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the UN and regional partners in Yemen with the aim of a repatriation flight for British nationals in Yemen who wish to return to the UK.

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department first became aware of British nationals in Yemen who wished to return to the UK during the covid-19 pandemic; and where in Yemen those British nationals are.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) suspended its operations in Yemen in 2015. Since then our ability to offer consular assistance to British nationals in Yemen has been extremely limited. Since March 2011, the FCO has consistently advised against all travel to all parts of Yemen, and advised British nationals to leave the country. However, where possible, the FCO remains committed to doing what it can for those British nationals who remain in Yemen. Our consular team continues to work around the clock to provide support, advice and information. British travellers needing to speak to a consular officer should call the FCO in London on +44(0)20 7008 1500.In light of the challenges following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent restrictions put in place by the authorities in Yemen, FCO officials have been in contact with 29 British nationals who have expressed a wish to return to the UK since the start of the outbreak. These British nationals are spread across Yemen, but most are located in Aden and Seiyun. Officials have worked with the UN and regional partners to arrange departures to neighbouring countries, from where onward flights to the UK have then been secured. To date, seven British nationals have successfully left Yemen.

Climate Change

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the recommendation on page 26 of the Committee on Climate Change's 2020 Progress Report to Parliament, published in June 2020, what plans he has to develop a plan to address the scale of climate risk that the UK faces from climate change overseas.

James Duddridge: Climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges we face today. The UK is committed to tackling climate change, which is why we bid to host COP26 in Glasgow in partnership with Italy. COP 26 must persuade a domestic and global audience that the zero carbon economy is the growth story of the next ten years, that this transition is irreversible and accelerating, and that it will be fair and inclusive. As the first country to legislate to end our contribution to global warming, the UK is leading by example as a global force for good.COP26 is an international priority for FCO. The FCO is contributing to a strongly coordinated cross-Government approach to ensure ambitious climate action across the world, which protects the most vulnerable, while also addressing the scale of climate risk that the UK faces from climate change overseas. The FCO and Cabinet Office COP Unit are well integrated to ensure a coherent, well-coordinated diplomatic effort. The FCO has also recently appointed four Regional Ambassadors to support global engagement. The UK has c180 diplomats engaged globally on climate issues and FCO Climate and Energy Attaché Network has expanded by 50 local staff in FY19/20 to help deliver COP26.Through this extensive diplomatic effort, bilateral and multilateral fora, working with governments, businesses, and civil societies, we are calling for all countries to: enhance greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments (known as "Nationally Determined Contributions"); and bring forward long-term climate strategies. We are also seeking to deliver campaigns on Adaptation and Resilience, Nature, Energy Transition, Zero Emissions Vehicles, and Finance.

Pakistani National Commission for Minorities: Ahmadiyya

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the (a) Government of Pakistan and (b) Supreme Court of Pakistan to help ensure that Ahmadi Muslims are represented within the Commission for Minorities Rights while having the right to self-identify as Muslims.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government remains deeply concerned by reports of discrimination and violence against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, as laid down in the constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.On 5 June, the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, wrote to Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, about the National Commission on Minorities in Pakistan. He welcomed its establishment and highlighted the importance of ensuring the new Commission is established in line with the UN Paris Principles as it begins its important work, specifically focusing on its independence, funding and membership. Our High Commissioner to Pakistan raised these issues about the National Commission on Minorities with Dr Mazari in a meeting on 8 June.

Corruption: Sanctions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to extend the scope of the new Global Human Rights Sanctions regime to encompass individuals and organisations guilty of corruption.

Nigel Adams: On 6 July the UK Government established the Global Human Rights ('Magnitsky') sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses by stopping them from entering our country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. As the Foreign Secretary announced to the House on Monday, we are considering how a corruption regime could be added to this toolkit - potentially drawing on the UN Convention Against Corruption, and practice under the frameworks in jurisdictions like the US and Canada.

Sanctions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the process is for drawing up the UK Sanctions List; which individuals and bodies can nominate people and organisations for inclusion on that list; and who makes the final decision on which people and organisations are included on that list.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government publishes the UK sanctions list on GOV.UK website, which provides details of those designated under regulations made under the Sanctions Act. When the UK Government makes a decision to create, change or remove a sanctions designation, it will update the UK sanctions list.All designations will need to meet the legal tests as set out in the Sanctions Act, which includes ensuring designations are underpinned by robust evidence. On Monday 6 July, the Government published a policy note which sets out factors that are likely to be relevant to designation decisions and an information note designed to help NGOs engage with the regime. Parliamentarians can continue to engage with the Government via the usual means, including by writing to the Foreign Secretary. It is important to note that the sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries, but those who commit serious human rights violations or abuses anywhere in the world.As set out in the legislation, designation decisions are for the Secretary of State.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make urgent representations to the Government of Bahrain on the death sentences imposed on (a) Mohammed Ramadhan and (b) Hussain Moosa before their cases are considered by the Court of Cassation in that country on the 13 July 2020.

James Cleverly: We are concerned by the death sentences handed to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa. We continue to raise both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We continue to monitor their case, as it is taken to the Court of Cassation for final review.

Human Rights: Sanctions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role Parliament will have in (a) the identification of people liable for sanctions under the new Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and (b) holding the Government to account on the operation of that regime.

Nigel Adams: Parliamentarians can continue to engage with the Government on designations via the usual means, including by writing to the Foreign Secretary. All designations will need to meet the legal tests as set out in the Sanctions Act, which includes ensuring designations are underpinned by robust evidence. It is important to note that the sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries, but those who commit serious human rights violations or abuses anywhere in the world.As all Government business is accountable to Parliament the operation of the new regime can be scrutinised by Parliamentarians. We will continue to report to Parliament as required under Sections 30 and 32 of the Sanctions Act. Doing so provides Parliament with regular moments where they may scrutinise the actions the Government has taken in respect of human rights sanctions.

Human Rights: Sanctions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to enable select committee chairs to request and receive reports from the Government on those who may be liable for sanctions under the new Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

Nigel Adams: We recognise the range of views expressed by Parliamentarians on how the Global Human Rights sanctions regime is being implemented, including on which targets should be considered. Parliamentarians can continue to engage with the Government via the usual means, including by writing to the Foreign Secretary. It is not appropriate to speculate on potential designations, as to do so could undermine the impact of designations when made. We will continue to report to Parliament as required under Sections 30 and 32 of the Sanctions Act. Doing so provides Parliament with regular opportunities to scrutinise the operation of human rights sanctions.

China: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what response he has provided to the Chinese Government for the personal protection equipment received from China during the covid-19 outbreak in the UK.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Non-governmental Organisations

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has to increase support to non-governmental organisations working on the issues of (a) conflict, (b) climate change and (c) armed violence after the merger of his Department with the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: The Government will continue its ongoing engagement with UK and international non-Governmental organisations, including on issues relating to the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Integrated Foreign Policy Review, which is expected to conclude later in the year, will define the Government's ambition for the UK's role in the world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the new Department. Both the review and the merger are evidence of the Prime Minister's commitment to a unified British foreign policy that will maximise our influence around the world, including on conflict, climate change and armed violence.

Israeli Settlements

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on humanitarian access to all parts of (a) the West Bank and (b) the Gaza strip in the event of annexation.

James Cleverly: We are concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and caution against anything that could exacerbate this. Our priority and focus is on preventing annexation. We continue to urge Israel not to take these steps. The Prime Minister has conveyed the UK's opposition to unilateral annexation to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on multiple occasions, including in a phone call on 6 July and a letter in June. The Prime Minister also urged Israel not to proceed in an article in Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on 1 July. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message in his calls with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Gantz and Foreign Minister Ashkenazi.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Turkish government on British volunteers fighting with the Peoples Protection Forces, known as the YPG.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with its Turkish counterpart on recent legal action in British courts against individuals returning to the UK following periods fighting with the Peoples Protection Forces known as the YPG.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his policy that the activities of Kurdish fighters in Syria constitute terrorism.

James Cleverly: The UK sees a clear distinction between the aims of the PKK, which we proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2001, and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the partner force of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Syria. We pay tribute to the courage and sacrifices made by SDF in the fight against Daesh. We continue to urge the Kurdish elements of the SDF to distance themselves from the PKK and its terrorist activity. The UK also calls on all parties to the conflict in Syria to respect international law.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) financial, (b) logistical and (c) military support has been provided by the Government to Kurdish fighters in Syria.

James Cleverly: As part of the Global Coalition the UK has provided military support, including airstrikes, to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which the Kurdish YPG are a contingent part, in the campaign to remove Daesh from north-eastern Syria. We have also provided humanitarian and limited stabilisation support to address the immediate needs of the local population in areas under SDF control in north-eastern Syria. We maintain political and diplomatic contact with a number of Kurdish groups to work towards a political solution to the conflict.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the lawfulness of actions taken by Turkish forces in Syria and whether they are in breach of the UN Charter in terms of (a) unilateral use of military force, (b) use of unlawful weapons including chemical weapons, (c) ethnic cleansing and forcible displacement, (d) violence and atrocities against civilians, (e) discrimination of Kurdish populations and (f) use of jihadist militias.

James Cleverly: The UK made clear our opposition to the unilateral Turkish intervention in north-east Syria in October 2019. We welcome the ceasefire currently in place in the north-east and also acknowledge the important role Turkey has played in recent months to secure a ceasefire in Idlib. We consistently reiterate the importance of all parties to the Syrian conflict adhering to the current ceasefires and abiding by international law. The UK continues to raise concerns with Turkey over reports of violations of international law by Turkish backed forces in Syria, and to call for credible investigations into alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law in areas under the control of armed groups supported by Turkey.

Northern Ireland Office

Elections: Fraud

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has held discussions with the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland on ensuring that safeguards are in place to tackle electoral fraud throughout the UK.

Mr Robin Walker: Electoral policy for all elections in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland is an independent appointment made by him. Northern Ireland Office Ministers and officials meet with the Chief Electoral Officer to discuss a range of electoral issues, including the safeguards that are in place to tackle electoral fraud.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to Written Statement WS168 made on 18 March 2020, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the troubles which focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ensures that Northern Ireland veterans are treated as fairly as those who served overseas. We are committed to making progress on this as quickly as possible.

Department of Health and Social Care

Protective Clothing: Imports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Ministers of the Department of International Trade to help secure imports of (a) surgical gowns, (b) masks and (c) other essential personal protection equipment for (i) clinical staff  and (ii) other key workers during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort to expand the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) from imports from overseas and improving domestic manufacturing capability.We have set up a cross-Government PPE sourcing unit to secure new supply lines from across the world and we have published rigorous standards against which we will buy. Our teams across the world have ensured local sources are able to deliver the products required. The Department for International Trade has also stood up a global network to coordinate the PPE sourcing.

Protective Clothing: Exports

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many items of personal protective equipment have been exported from the UK since 1 January 2020; and if he will provide a breakdown of those items.

Jo Churchill: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on United Kingdom imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics.There is aggregated trade data available for personal protective equipment (PPE) goods and for the periods requested on HMRC’s website, under ‘Build your own data tables’. The site also contains a ‘Help’ function with information on how to extract trade data. This is available at the following link:uktradeinfo.comHMRC also maintains a list of COVID-19 products, including PPE goods, and their commodity codes on GOV.UK. Unfortunately, the trade data collected does not allow HMRC to distinguish PPE goods classified under a particular commodity code from any non-PPE goods classified under that same commodity code.

NHS: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what directions he has given as a result of the covid-19 pandemic under (a) section 253 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (emergency powers), in addition to (b) the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and (c) any other statutory provision.

Jo Churchill: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, under section 253 of the National Health Service Act 2006, the Secretary of State directed NHS England to exercise the commissioning functions of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to support the provision of services by NHS bodies, commissioning health services from independent providers to address coronavirus. Direction was also given to NHS England to exercise CCG functions in relation to commissioning services from NHS trusts and foundation trusts. These powers allowed for effective national crisis management and the swift establishment of the Nightingale Hospitals by NHS England. Direction was also given on providing for flexible provision of pharmaceutical services and providing authorisation and consent for Government Communications Headquarters to support the security of NHS and public health service network and information systems.The Secretary of State provided no direction under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Direction was provided on other primary legislation, such as the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020, made under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013. These Directions authorised COVID-19 data collection and analysis and the development of information and communication systems to deliver services in connection with COVID-19.The Department has not as yet made any Directions under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Protective Clothing: Business

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to prevent companies profiteering from the supply of personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Government has set up a personal protective equipment (PPE) sourcing unit to secure new supply lines from across the world and published rigorous standards against which we will buy. Maximising the central purchasing and supply of PPE should prevent trusts needing to buy directly and so reduce the levels of profiteering.Although the vast majority of firms are acting responsibly, the Competition and Markets Authority has written to the small number of firms suspected of exploiting the current COVID-19 situation for financial gain, and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy met business and consumer representatives to discuss what further action might be necessary to address the issue. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will continue to review the options open for tackling profiteering.

Coronavirus: Local Government

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the delivery of supplies of personal protective equipment to local authorities under the Clipper system has been delayed; and when those supplies will be available to all local authorities in England.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 18 May 2020



The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Portal was rolled out nationally to general practitioners, small residential social care providers (24 beds or fewer) and small domiciliary care providers (99 clients or fewer). Over 21,000 providers throughout England have been invited to register and order through the PPE Portal, delivering more than 15 million items of PPE. The PPE Portal acts as an emergency top-up route for providers that cannot obtain sufficient PPE through their usual wholesaler routes.In addition, we have authorised the release of over 143 million items of PPE to local resilience forums to help them respond to urgent local spikes in need across the adult social care system and other frontline services, where providers are unable to access PPE through their usual, or dedicated wholesaler routes.

Health Services and Social Services: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much personal protective equipment his Department delivered to (a) care homes, (b) domiciliary care organisations, (c) district nurses, (d) NHS ambulance trusts and (e) GPs in each week from 2 March 2020 to 4 May 2020.

Jo Churchill: Since 25 February the Government has delivered over 2 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the health and social care system within England, plus tens of millions more will have been distributed by the devolved administrations. This PPE is for frontline staff at care homes, home care providers and hospices as well as to hospitals, ambulance trusts, general practitioner practices and pharmacists.Over 143 million items of PPE have been made available to social care providers through wholesalers. In addition to this, to date we have authorised the release of over 139 million items of PPE to local resilience forums.

Protective Clothing: Local Government

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individual items of personal protective equipment have been delivered to local authorities through the Clipper distribution system to date.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The Government is working with e-commerce expertise to roll out a new online portal to help primary care and small social care providers to order critical personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE Portal acts as an emergency top-up route for health care providers that cannot obtain sufficient PPE through their usual wholesaler routes.All health and care providers should continue to use their usual wholesaler routes as their primary access route for PPE, whether invited to register with the portal or not.As of Tuesday 30 June, over 16 million items of PPE have been delivered via the PPE Portal, with over 11,000 orders for PPE having been made.

Manufacturing Industries: Coronavirus

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many companies have (a) contacted and (b) been engaged by the Government to assist with the manufacture of equipment to help tackle the covid-19 outbreak in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) Northumberland and (d) Wansbeck constituency.

Jo Churchill: We are building up United Kingdom manufacturing with signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) through UK-based manufacturers, including facemasks, visors, gowns and aprons.The Government is currently in contact with over 350 potential UK manufacturers. Engineering efforts by small companies are being scaled up and we have already taken delivery of products from new, certified UK manufacturers.To date, we have authorised the release of over 139 million items of PPE to local resilience forums to help them respond to urgent local spikes in need across the adult social care system and some other frontline services, where providers are unable to access PPE through their usual, or dedicated wholesaler routes.

Coronavirus: Epidemiology

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the estimated R rate in the community is not reported separately from the rate in health and social care settings at Downing Street briefings.

Jo Churchill: The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-0.9 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates. Because outbreaks in care homes, hospitals and the community are interlinked, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its subgroups do not calculate them separately.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) amount and (b) value of personal protective equipment sent to the UK by foreign governments was in 2020.

Jo Churchill: Twenty-one personal protective equipment (PPE) donations from foreign governments have been received since 13 April 2020. This amounts to 34,341,800 items of PPE (as of 27 June). The value of these donations is estimated at £18,288,438.

Protective Clothing: Manufacturing Industries

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has taken through monitoring to ensure that personal protective equipment used in the NHS and social care sector is not manufactured in conditions that breach human rights.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 23 June 2020



The Government has a robust triage process which ensures that we discard orders that do not meet technical assurance standards, commercial due diligence and checks for risk and fraud.The Government ensures that the modern slavery clause is in our personal protective equipment contracts and we undertake factory inspections to ensure compliance.

Hospital Beds: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many private hospital beds have been used since the start of the covid-19 outbreak; and what the cost is of each of those beds per night.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 23 June 2020



National Health Service patients are benefitting from an unprecedented partnership with private hospitals in the United Kingdom as we battle the COVID-19 outbreak. The NHS is accessing these facilities at cost, with those costs judged by an independent auditor. Reimbursements to the independent sector will be for reasonable and narrowly-defined costs only.The latest collected information shows that over 215,000 patient contacts had taken place under the contract. As lockdown eases and elective activity starts to resume utilisation of the contract is increasing. It is currently not possible to estimate the cost to the public purse.

Protective Clothing: Public Transport

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make and assessment of the potential merits of removing the compulsory requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.

Jo Churchill: The Government has thoroughly assessed the merits of wearing face coverings on public transport. We continue to follow scientific advice and recommend this in order to protect the public against COVID-19.The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised that using cloth masks as a precautionary measure could be at least partially effective in enclosed spaces like public transport where social distancing is not possible consistently, creating a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet.This advice does not replace or change existing advice on other measures – such as hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation – which remain more important (because of stronger evidence and larger effects).

Meat: Inspections

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of (a) cysticercus tenuicollis, (b) cysticercus ovis, (c) hydatid cysts and (d) generalised cysticecus ovis were identified at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency performing meat inspections from 1 January 2014 to 1 June 2018.

Jo Churchill: The Food Standards Agency holds the following data. For the period 1 January 2014 – 31 June 2018 the following instances were identified at post-mortem and prevented from entering the food chain:  ConditionNumber of InstancesCysticercus Tenuicollis4,544,896Cysticercus Ovis480,038Hydatid Cysts115,844Generalised Cysticecus Ovis5,946 Prior to 2016, the data for Cysticercus Ovis was not separated between generalised C. ovis and localised C. ovis. The 225,251 instances between the period 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2015 have been included in the 480,038 figure.

Meat: Inspections

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many instances of faecal contamination on meat carcasses and offal were identified at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the FSA performing meat inspections from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2020.

Jo Churchill: The Food Standards Agency does not separately record faecal contamination during post-mortem inspection. All types of contamination (faecal, grease, wool, hair etc) are recorded as contamination. The total number of instances of contamination that were identified and prevented from the entering the food chain for the period requested were as follows:  SpeciesNumber of instances of contaminationSheep2,700,179Cattle931,683Pigs1,905,167

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many smear tests were conducted in each of the last 12 months.

Jo Churchill: Information on cervical screening uptake rates is published quarterly by NHS Digital and can be found on its website using the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cervical-screening-programme/cervical-screening-programme-coverage-statistics-management-informationThe last available data, published 21 April 2020, pertains to Q3 2019-20. The next set of data (Q4 2019-20) will be published in July 2020.

Exercise Cygnus

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which recommendations made in the Exercise Cygnus report his Government plans to implement.

Jo Churchill: The Government accepted all the recommendations from Exercise Cygnus. The lessons identified from Exercise Cygnus have been incorporated into an ongoing programme of work on our pandemic flu response plans. The lessons learned from Exercise Cygnus continue to be considered by the Government and a range of stakeholders, including expert advisory groups and local emergency planners. We continue to work across Government and with key stakeholders to develop coordinated multi-sector response plans for a future influenza pandemic.

Protective Clothing: Public Transport

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for people with anxiety and claustrophobia adhering to the mandatory use of face coverings on public transport.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to issue guidance on exemptions for people that cannot wear a face covering on public transport due to medical reasons.

Jo Churchill: Whilst it is mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport, we recognise that reasonable measures are necessary for some people on health or disability grounds. In the guidance published, we have listed cases in which exemptions could apply.The guidance published online states that you do not have to wear a face covering on public transport if you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering. In addition, you do not have to wear a face covering on public transport if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress.

Children: Obesity

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has taken to review the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on delivery of the Childhood Obesity Action Plan.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 25 June 2020



Through the three chapters of our childhood obesity plan we are delivering a wide range of measures to help achieve our bold ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce the gap in obesity between children from the most and least deprived areas by 2030.Public Health England led a rapid review to better understand how different factors can impact on how people are affected by COVID-19. This includes analysis of age, deprivation and obesity, where data was available. The review’s findings were published on 2 June and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-review-of-disparities-in-risks-and-outcomes Many of the measures in the three chapters of the childhood obesity plan will have an impact on tackling obesity across all age groups. These include the soft drinks industry levy, sugar reduction and wider calorie reformulation programme, restricting promotions and calorie labelling in restaurants which will improve our eating habits and reduce the amount of sugar we consume. We remain committed to reviewing what more can be done and will continue to monitor progress and emerging evidence.

Fentanyl: Misuse

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of fentanyl abuse have been recorded in the last five years.

Jo Churchill: Information on the number of cases of fentanyl abuse is not collected centrally. The Government closely monitors risk around the misuse of fentanyl. In 2018, Public Health England produced guidance on incident planning for fentanyl or other potent opioids arriving into the illicit drug market. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fentanyl-preparing-for-a-future-threat

Alcoholic Drinks: Age

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps to raise awareness of under age drinking.

Jo Churchill: Public Health England (PHE) is working with other Government departments to help prevent young people from developing alcohol and drug problems. This includes supporting investment in programmes which have a positive impact on young people, giving them the confidence, resilience and risk management skills to resist drug use.PHE’s Rise Above, an online resilience building resource aimed at 11 to 16-year-olds, provides resources to help young people develop skills to make positive choices for their health, including alcohol use. The Rise Above website can be accessed at the following link:https://riseabove.org.uk/PHE’s FRANK website and helpline provides impartial, reliable and confidential information and advice about drugs and provides resource for young people, parents and concerned others. The FRANK website can be accessed at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/The Department for Education’s statutory guidance ‘Relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education’ will become mandatory in September 2020. Through this, education on drugs, alcohol and tobacco will become compulsory at state-funded primary and secondary schools. The statutory guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Hospitals: Alcoholic Drinks

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Jo Churchill: As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England and NHS Improvement, with support from Public Health England (PHE), is helping acute hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol harm to establish or improve specialist alcohol care teams. PHE is supporting work to increase opportunities for the earlier detection of alcohol-related liver disease in people drinking at or above high-risk levels. This includes working with NHS England and NHS Improvement on a new commissioning for quality and innovation (CQUIN) scheme to incentivise increased cirrhosis and fibrosis tests for alcohol dependent patients in acute and mental health services.

Cholesterol: Pharmacy

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for the publication of the NHS England review on making cholesterol lowering treatment available directly from pharmacists.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement expect that the outcome of the review into making high dose statins available direct from pharmacies will be made available later in the year.

Influenza: Vaccination

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps he plans to take in 2020 to increase the take up of the flu vaccine by at risk people.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



Public Health England is developing a marketing campaign to encourage uptake of flu vaccination amongst those who are most at risk of flu. This will be launched ahead of the flu vaccination season, which starts in September each year. Pharmacies and general practices will offer vaccinations to at risk cohorts and, in additional to provision of the vaccine in maternity departments for pregnant women, NHS England and NHS Improvement are putting in to place plans to optimise visits by vaccination teams to other clinical departments within hospital trusts to encourage uptake of the vaccination.Furthermore, the Annual Flu letter 2020/21 identifies the need for local plans to deliver activities to encourage those in at risk groups to have the vaccine which is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884718/Annual_flu_letter_short_2020_to_2021_v8__002_.pdf

Influenza: Research

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on whether research has yet been completed on which influenza viruses are expected to be most prevalent during winter 2020-21.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



Public Health England reports on international surveillance in the Weekly National Flu Reports which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-national-flu-reports-2019-to-2020-season Based on the World Health Organization bi-weekly update, influenza A accounts for the majority of influenza detections worldwide. Of the subtyped influenza A viruses, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 accounts for the majority of detections worldwide. However, circulating strains change over the year and we cannot predict which strains will be most prevalent in the United Kingdom this winter.

Pharmacy: Registration

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of community pharmacists that have been re-registered during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department does not hold the information requested.The General Pharmaceutical Council holds data on the temporary register of all pharmacy professionals which was created due to the COVID-19 outbreak.However, the temporary register data does not contain information on how many of those pharmacy professionals previously worked in community pharmacy or would intend to work in community pharmacy if they returned to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacy: Finance

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the value of funding received by community pharmacists under the (a) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and (b) the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Jo Churchill: The Department has made no assessment of the take up of these loans by community pharmacy. However, we have made extra advance payments of £350 million for National Health Service pharmaceutical services to support community pharmacy through this period.

Pharmacy: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to increase the level of long-term funding allocated to community pharmacies in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the effectiveness of the community pharmacy sector to help reduce the demand on (a) primary and (b) secondary care.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



The funding for National Health Service pharmaceutical services provided by community pharmacies in England was set at £2.592 million a year until 2023/24 through the five-year deal; a total of nearly £13 billion. The deal contains an annual review to ensure that the services commissioned under the community pharmacy contractual framework (CPCF) remain within that financial envelope.The five-year deal, published by the Department in July 2019, sets out an expanded role for community pharmacy across prevention, urgent care and medicine safety. It will provide accessible and convenient healthcare, allowing people to quickly access a much wider range of services and health advice, in the heart of their community, relieving pressure on general practitioner (GP) practices and other parts of the health service, including secondary care.In October 2019, we launched the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, which refers people with minor illness and urgent medicine needs direct from NHS 111 to community pharmacy as the first port of call. Pilots are currently running on expanding this successful service to include referrals from GP practices. We will evaluate these pilots and, if positive, negotiate new service specifications into both the CPCF and the GP contract.

Pharmacy: Finance

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the financial sustainability of pharmacies.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has a duty to ensure access, in England, to National Health Service pharmaceutical services. These are commissioned from community pharmacies who are private businesses. £2.592 billion a year was committed to the sector in the five-year deal from 2019/20 to 2023/24 for the NHS pharmaceutical services they provide, a total of nearly £13 billion. To maintain access in areas where there are fewer pharmacies or higher health needs, additional payments, from within that funding, are made under the Pharmacy Access Scheme to eligible pharmacies.During the COVID-19 pandemic, £350 million in extra advance payments have been made to address cash flow, and support pharmacies in maintaining medicine supplies and providing health advice. Additional payments above the £2.592 billion for 2020/21 have been made to support additional opening hours on Bank Holidays and for a medicine delivery service to shielded patients. We continue to work with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee to assess any additional COVID-19 related costs that it may be necessary to cover.

Pharmacy

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has held with representatives of the pharmacy sector on that sector's role in the next phase of the response to covid-19; and what recent assessment he has made of how pharmacies can support medicines safety and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 29 June 2020



Health Ministers, the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have been in continued dialogue with representatives of the pharmacy sector throughout the pandemic. Discussions are now focused on what we can learn from the changes made, especially in primary care and the wider system, during the pandemic and which of those changes we might want to embed.The Government’s ambition on using community pharmacy to support urgent care and medicine safety was set out in the five-year deal. We will continue to prioritise and negotiate the services outlined in that agreement with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee in the light of the additional demands placed on the health service by COVID-19.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed as clinically vulnerable or extremely clinically vulnerable and advised to shield after the 10 June 2020 cut-off date for applying to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) guidance and (b) support is for people who have been advised to shield due to being classed as extremely clinically vulnerable during the covid-19 outbreak and missed the 10 June 2020 cut-off for applying to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jo Churchill: Only clinically extremely vulnerable people have been advised to shield. For this cohort, the information requested is not available as the data does not include the date when a person was added to the shielded patient list. Guidance detailing the support arrangements in place for those who are shielding is set out at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 We have set out an unprecedented package of financial support to help the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the clinically extremely vulnerable are able to access these where eligible.

Endoscopy: Staff

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the national shortfall in medical staff able to provide elective endoscopy services; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all NHS hospitals are urgently able to provide a six-day elective service.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 30 June 2020



The Cancer Workforce Plan (published by Health Education England in 2017) includes a commitment to invest in 200 clinical endoscopists by 2021 to support an increase in capacity for earlier diagnosis. This is in addition to the commitment to train 200 clinical endoscopists by the end of 2018. As at June 2020, 247 have either been trained or are currently in training.We have now started to reset NHS services that were rightly suspended whilst we dealt with the initial impact of COVID-19. Some of the most urgent treatments, such as emergency and urgent cancer care, have continued to be delivered throughout the outbreak.On 29 April, Simon Stevens and Amanda Pritchard wrote to colleagues across the National Health Service to set out the expectation that local systems and Cancer Alliances continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic capacity for cancer and sought assurance from regional cancer Senior Responsible Officers that appropriate arrangements were in place. On 8 June, further guidance was issued on the second phase of the NHS response to COVID-19 for cancer services.Furthermore, the NHS England and NHS Improvement national cancer team is supporting planning by providing analytical modelling about the local capacity required to catch up on demand for diagnostics and acting as a central link to the independent sector partnership so that local systems can be supported with additional capacity where required.

Health Services: Employment

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he plans to issue to employers on their responsibilities to support individuals who are advised to continue shielding by their healthcare teams beyond 1 August 2020.

Jo Churchill: Employers have a legal duty to make sure the workplace is safe for their employees, including employees with disabilities and those who are clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable. Guidance on working safely during the COVID-19 outbreak has been issued to help employers in England make their workplaces COVID-19-safe for their employees, visitors and customers. This is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19 We are continuing to work across Government to ensure that clinically extremely vulnerable people can return to work safely. Further guidance will be issued on 1 August 2020.

Cancer: Health Services

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support patients who are waiting for cancer (a) screening, (b) follow-up tests and (c) treatment that has been postponed due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have taken a range of actions to support patients during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with providers to ensure that any screening appointments that have been delayed due to the pandemic are rescheduled as soon as is safely possible. Services are focused on restoring appointments for the highest-priority patient populations first, including those already some way along the screening pathway.In addition, COVID-19 protected cancer hubs were set up in 21 Cancer Alliances across England to provide cancer surgery and to keep patients safe during the outbreak. Diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer has been ring-fenced so that referrals, diagnostics and treatment can be brought back to pre-pandemic levels at the earliest opportunity. Particular emphasis has been given to ensuring that patients are confident and feel safe in accessing these services.The National Cancer Director wrote to Cancer Alliances on 8 June to outline these measures at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/06/C0511-second-phase-of-nhs-response-to-covid-19-for-cancer-services-letter.pdf

HIV Infection

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the HIV Expert Group and National HIV Action Plan, announced on 30 January 2019.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date the National HIV Action Plan will be published.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who the members are of the National HIV Expert Group that is responsible for the National HIV Action Plan, announced on 30 January 2019.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 30 June 2020



Following the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s announcement in January 2019, the National AIDS Trust and Terrence Higgins Trust are leading an independent commission on ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. The HIV Commission is chaired by Dame Inga Beale and includes experts from public health and academic communities. This work is being supported by Public Health England.The HIV Commission will publish its recommendations later this year and the Government will convene an expert group to develop an action plan to end new HIV transmissions after it receives the recommendations. Membership of the expert group and the publication date of the National HIV Action Plan will be announced in due course.

Opioids

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the NICE on the (a) use of and (b) benefits of opioids.

Jo Churchill: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends opioids for routine use where evidence supports this, such as in its guideline on palliative care for adults: strong opioids for pain relief [CG140].NICE is currently developing a guideline on the safe prescribing and withdrawal management of prescribed drugs associated with dependence and withdrawal [GID-NG10141], which will consider opioids, and on chronic pain: assessment and management [GID-NG10069]. It also published guidance in April 2020 [NG163] recommending that the use of an opioid and benzodiazepine combination could be considered for some patients with COVID-19 to manage their symptoms.

Movianto UK: Contracts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 4 and 5 June 2020 to Questions 51733 and 51735 on Movianto UK: Contracts, what discussions his Department has had  with Movianto on establishing the value of its unpaid (a) rent, (b) electricity, (c) rates, (d) water rates and (e) other the fixed costs since the start of its contract for maintaining UK covid-19 pandemic supplies.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 4 and 5 June 2020 to Questions 51733 and 51735 on Movianto UK: Contracts, what recent discussions his Department has had with Movianto on recouping payments made to the company to cover fixed costs that it did not pay for the personal and protective equipment storage sits at (a) Titan and (b) Haycock Green warehouses.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 01 July 2020



Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) hold the contract with Movianto on behalf of Public Health England. SCCL have had conversations with Movianto.As a result of these conversations, the Department can confirm it has only paid for its share of services provided by Movianto under the terms of the contracts it holds with suppliers.

Healthy Start Scheme

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of potential increased demand for the Healthy Start voucher scheme.

Jo Churchill: The Department is modelling the impact of the potential increase in demand for the Healthy Start voucher scheme. Healthy Start is a statutory scheme which we are committed to.

Intensive Care: Hospital Beds

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many intensive care beds the NHS has.

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the current NHS intensive care bed capacity is compared to January 2020.

Edward Argar: The information is not available in the format requested.

Smoking: Public Health

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent from the public purse on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20.

Jo Churchill: Expenditure on smoking cessation promotion by Public Health England for the periods of 2018-19 and 2019-20 are as follows: 2018-19: £2.16 million 2019-20: £1.78 millionThe figures reference expenditure for advertising on television, radio, national press, regional press, out of home (outdoor), cinema, social and digital advertising.All figures rounded to the nearest £10,000 and do not include VAT.Recruitment advertising and media partnerships are not included. Paid search is not included.

Nitrous Oxide: Misuse

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the health effects of the misuse of nitrous oxide; and if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the sale of canisters of that product.

Jo Churchill: No recent assessment of the health effects of nitrous oxide has been made. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs considered nitrous oxide in 2015 and concluded that there is evidence that the use of nitrous oxide, other than in line with designated guidance and for purposes other than for which it was manufactured, can cause harm. Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 it is an offence to supply a psychoactive substance. Those who supply nitrous oxide who know, or who are reckless as to whether, it will used for its psychoactive effect may be subject to a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.

Cancer: Health Services

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter of 29 April 2020 from the NHS Chief Executive and NHS Chief Operating Officer to the Chief executives of all NHS trusts and foundation trusts et al, if he will publish data on the extent of the backlog of cancer treatment during the period of the second phase of the NHS's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: Data on cancer referrals and treatments is collected and published by NHS England and available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/Latest data available is April 2020, data for May 2020 will be published on 9 July 2020.The National Health Service has continued to provide urgent and emergency services throughout the outbreak and has run the ‘Open for Business’ media campaign to encourage people with potentially serious health issues, such as cancer, to continue to seek medical advice and attend essential appointments. Cancer Alliances and Cancer Hubs have identified surgical capacity to meet demand for cancer services and treatments at this time.

Smoking: Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the potential funding options for programmes to reduce smoking uptake amongst young people in the Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s consultation, which closed on 14 October 2019.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 July 2020



Reducing youth smoking rates is a key part of the current Tobacco Control Plan 2017-2022 for England which aims to see the smoking rate in 15 year olds reduced to 3% or less by the end of 2022. Youth smoking rates are continuing to decline. In 2018, 5.3% of 15 year olds were regular smokers. 2% of 11-15 year olds were regular smokers, and 16% had ever smoked.The Government remains committed to its vision of smokefree 2030. We intend to publish the Government response to the Prevention Green Paper, ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ in due course and key steps and ambitions to deliver smokefree 2030 after this.

Smoking

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Advancing our health:prevention in the 2020s, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) Lambeth, (b) Southwark, (c) London and (d) England are smoke-free by 2030.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 July 2020



Local authorities are responsible for providing stop smoking services and are working towards the commitments in the current Tobacco Control Plan for England 2017-2022. Public Health England (PHE) provides tools such as the online Local Tobacco Control Profiles that allows users to compare local authorities in the region and benchmark local authorities against the England or regional average. The tool is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/tobacco-controlCurrent smoking rates for 18 year olds and older in 2018 indicate Lambeth at 12.4%, Southwark 14.5%, London region 13.9% and England 14.4%.PHE and other organisations, including the Greater London Authority and NHS England, are supporting a London-wide tobacco alliance to meet the smoking reduction aspirations in ‘A Health and Care Vision for London’. The aim is for London to become the first smoke free capital city before 2030. More information is available on the Healthy London Partnership website at the following link:https://www.healthylondon.org/vision/The Government remains committed to its vision of smokefree 2030. We intend to publish the Government response to the Prevention Green Paper, ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ in due course and key steps and ambitions to deliver Smokefree 2030 after this.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy to implement an elimination strategy in respect of covid-19.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



Total eradication of SARS-CoV-2 globally is unlikely (unless there is some unexpected biological change in the virus). Elimination nationally (i.e. bringing the number of locally acquired cases to zero) may be possible transiently but is highly unlikely to be possible permanently. Though other countries appear to have eliminated the virus locally, it is still early in the pandemic and the virus is very likely to reappear in these countries. Instead of eradication/elimination, a realistic public health goal would be to have very good control of transmission so that the number of new cases, and therefore the disease burden, is very low.

Prescriptions

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions are dispensed daily on average in (a) the community and (b) hospitals in England.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



The average number of prescriptions dispensed daily in the community in England since April 2017 is shown in the following table.Time PeriodTotal number of itemsAverage number of items per dayApril 2017 - March 20181,106,431,8803,031,320April 2018 - March 20191,109,084,8953,038,589April 2019 - March 20201,132,043,7333,093,016 Information for hospitals is not available in the format requested.National Health Service prescribing and dispensing data for financial years 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 has been obtained from aggregated monthly Prescription Cost Analysis data that is published on the NHS Business Services Authority website at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/prescription-data/dispensing-data/prescription-cost-analysis-pca-data

Coronavirus: Vitamin D

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken an assessment of the scientific evidence in relation to the effect of lower levels of vitamin D on susceptibility to infection with covid-19.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



Public Health England (PHE) commissioned the Scientific Advisory Commission on Nutrition (SACN) to examine new evidence on whether vitamin D supplementation could reduce the risk of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTIs). SACN’s review concluded that evidence currently does not support vitamin D supplementation to prevent ARTIs in the general United Kingdom population. The review reiterates the importance of vitamin D for bone and muscle health. This can be accessed at the following link:https://app.box.com/s/g0ldpth1upfd7fw763ew3aqa3c0pyvkyPHE supported National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to review emerging evidence on vitamin D and the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. NICE’s review concluded that there is currently no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19. This can be accessed at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/advice/es28/evidence/evidence-review-pdf-8777674477

Meat: Coronavirus

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to investigate the reasons for the number of covid-19 outbreaks in abattoirs and other meat processing facilities.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



Public Health England (PHE) local health protection teams respond to notifications of suspected outbreaks in meat processing plants (including abattoirs) by undertaking a risk assessment, providing public health advice, including on infection prevention and control and social distancing measures, and advising on the testing of employees. In doing so, an assessment is made as to whether transmission may be occurring in or outside the workplace.An enhanced outbreak investigation protocol has been developed which will allow PHE to further understand the factors relating to infection transmission in meat-related food production and abattoir settings to ascertain potential routes of transmission: within the workplace through a more detailed understanding of the workforce, the working environment and working practices; staff and environmental biological sampling; factors outside the workplace, such as transport arrangements, housing, employment conditions.

Public Health

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government has made on implementing the commitments set out in the 2019 Prevention Green Paper; and what the timelines are for the full implementation of those commitments.

Jo Churchill: The Prevention Green Paper, ‘Advancing our health: Prevention in the 2020s’ outlined commitments with varying timelines, regarding the services we receive, the choices we make and the conditions in which we live. The Green Paper consultation closed on 14 October 2019 and attracted over 1,600 responses. The Government response to the consultation, with more detail on progress against the Green Paper commitments, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government intends to publish the response in due course.

Schools: Coronavirus

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on trends in the level of acute respiratory outbreaks in schools among (a) Black, Asian and minority ethnic pupils and (b) pupils with other protected characteristics; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



Data on the number and proportion of people recorded within acute respiratory outbreaks in schools are not available in the format requested.Public Health England provides information on the number of acute respiratory outbreaks in schools in its weekly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance report, available to view at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/weekly-covid-19-surveillance-report-published

NHS: Anaesthetics

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has made to ensure that there are  adequate supplies of anaesthetics to support local NHS services (a) during the covid-19 outbreak and (b) after the end of the transition period.

Jo Churchill: As part of our concerted national efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are doing everything we can to ensure patients continue to access safe and effective medicines, including anaesthetics. The Department is working closely with the pharmaceutical industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines they need, and precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.The United Kingdom is now in a Transition Period until 31 December 2020 after leaving the European Union on 31 January on the basis of a deal. The issue that now faces both us and the EU is what kind of trading relationship, and other forms of cooperation, we will have in future. During this Transition Period, it remains our objective to negotiate a future relationship with the EU and in our respective published negotiating documents, we have both stated objectives to reach an agreement on trade in goods. The UK’s published approach sets out how we want to facilitate trade in medicinal products, and support high levels of patient safety.

Surgery: Orthopaedics

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the importance of offering elective orthopaedic surgery close to where people live in respect of the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: Any changes to NHS services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic should be based on clinically-led decisions at the local level.The National Health Service is working to separate COVID-19 and non- COVID-19 services, to minimise the risk of transmission.

Health Services: Immigrants

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the paper entitled, Healthcare access for children and families on the move and migrants, published in BMJ Pediatrics Open on 13 April 2020.

Edward Argar: As part of its ongoing policy responsibilities, the Department is considering the Charging Regulations in relation to the most vulnerable in society, including children and migrant pregnant women and new mothers. This includes ensuring the evidence base is sufficient and up to date where necessary and consideration of relevant legal duties, such as the Public Sector Equality Duty.The Department has no plans to suspend the Charging Regulations or to launch an independent review of their impact.

Health Services: Immigrants

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the publication entitled, Patients not passports: migrants’ access to healthcare during the coronavirus crisis, published by Medact, Migrants Organise, and The New Economics Foundation in June 2020.

Edward Argar: Regulations came into force on 29 January 2020 to add Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (now known as COVID-19) to Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015. This means there can be no charge made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis, or treatment, of COVID-19. Patients that are known to be undergoing testing and treatment for coronavirus only are not subject to Home Office status checks.This information has been widely communicated to NHS staff and the public, including a message published on Public Health England’s Migrant Health Guide, which has been translated into 40 languages.

Emergencies: Planning

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on civil contingencies preparedness in each year since 2010.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 07 July 2020



As the Department’s preparedness strategy is multi-faceted and involves many organisations and departments, including the National Health Service, it is not possible to identify a single source of expenditure that accurately represents our civil contingencies preparedness. Since 2016-17, NHS England’s funding has increased every year in real terms. NHS England’s mandate is £129.7 billion this year, reaching £137.5 billion in 2023-24.

Remdesivir: USA

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the decision of the US Administration to purchase global supplies of Remdesivir for the treatment of patients with covid-19; and if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of that decision on the treatment options for patients with covid-19 in the UK.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2020 to Question 288 on Mental Health Services: Children and Young People, what plans he has to introduce further waiting time standards for mental health services for children and young people.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

LGBT People: Coronavirus

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make an assessment of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the mental health of (a) LGBT people who are Black, Asian and minority ethnic, (b) other LGBT people with multiple protected characteristics and (c) the rest of the LGBT community.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Gender Recognition: Coronavirus

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the length of waiting lists for adult gender identity services; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times on those lists to align with the statutory 18-week limit.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of claims to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020 have been successful.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nhs and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of claims made (a) successfully and (b) overall to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if will he make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling the backdating of pre-payment prescription claims to more than one month.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

LGBT People: Coronavirus

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has undertaken an equalities impact assessment of funding for mental health charities to expand support services during the covid-19 outbreak to ensure it meets the needs of LGBT people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled people and people with other protected characteristics.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Autism

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to publish its new Autism Strategy.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications have (a) been made and (b) accepted under the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance scheme since its introduction.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists: Correspondence

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to the letter from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, dated 22 April 2020, on aerosol-generating procedures undertaken by speech and language therapists.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ayanda Capital: Protective Clothing

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what experience Ayanda Capital had in procuring personal protective equipment prior to the decision to include it in his Department's supply chains.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ayanda Capital

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) discussions and (b) other communication Ministers and advisers have had with Ayanda Capital.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Exercise

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NICE guidance on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis will be updated to remove graded exercise in response to the increasing numbers of patients with fatigue symptoms after a diagnosis of covid-19.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Research

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding he is making available to research projects on the long term health effects of covid-19.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what resources he has made available to primary care settings to help patients with long-term covid-19 related symptoms.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to establish an independent expert group other than NERVTAG to adjudicate on whether certain procedures should be regarded as aerosol generating procedures for the purposes of personal protective equipment guidance.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Oil Rigs and Shipping

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral contribution of 7 July 2002, Official Report, column 839, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of testing asymptomatic people for covid-19 on returning (a) merchant mariners and (b) oil rig workers to the UK.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Tomography: Hampshire

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timescale is for resuming MRI scans in South West Hampshire for non-cancer patients.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Patients: Monitoring

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on a resolution to the remote monitoring of patients developed in Israel.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ayanda Capital: Protective Clothing

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the unit for each item of personal protection equipment agreed in the contract with Ayanda Capital.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Staff

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost to NHS hospitals was of using (a) agency staff and (b) bank staff in each year since 2010-11.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Influenza

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were admitted to hospital as a result of flu in each year since 2010-11.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Professions: Vacancies

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many FTE vacancies for (a) registered nurses and (b) medical staffthere were in each quarter from Q1 2018-19 up to and including Q1 2020-21.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Emergencies

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many serious incidents have been reported in the last 12 months.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Protective Clothing

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2020 to Question 62541 on protective clothing: coronavirus, whether that figure also includes items supplied to dental practices.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Neurology

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings reported in the July 2020 article entitled, The emerging spectrum of COVID-19 neurology: clinical, radiological and laboratory findings by Ross W Patterson et al, published in the neurological journal Brain, if he will instruct a review of the post-covid 19 infection care guidance that is provided for neurological symptoms to ensure that appropriate (a) referrals are made and (b) treatments are available.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Poverty

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she made an assessment of the potential effect on the health and well-being of people classed as living in extreme poverty of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The merger of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will enable us to bring together our international efforts; will strengthen our ability to contribute to the global recovery from COVID-19; and allow us to seize opportunities which arise as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year. The UK will continue to play a leading role on global health and is committed to achieving the health-related global goals, including ending the preventable deaths of mothers, new-borns and children by 2030.

Overseas Aid

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that future (a) development and (b) humanitarian spending is in line with the Leave No One Behind principle and reaches (i) people with disabilities and (ii) others in the most vulnerable category.

Wendy Morton: The UK is proud of its strong record on inclusive development and protecting the most vulnerable, and this Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this agenda.In co-hosting the Global Disability Summit two years ago, the UK demonstrated its leadership on disability inclusion and the principle of Leave No One Behind.The vital work of UK aid to reduce poverty and protect vulnerable groups will remain central to the new FCDO’s mission. The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy is expected to conclude later in the year, which will define the Government’s ambition for the UK’s role in the world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the FCDO. Both the review and the merger are evidence of the Prime Minister’s commitment to a unified British foreign and development policy that will maximise our influence around the world.

Government Departments: Overseas Aid

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to commission a future review of the transparency of Official Development Assistance spending by all Government departments.

Wendy Morton: The UK is globally recognised for its expertise and transparency in aid spending. We are committed to improving transparency of aid globally and maintaining our high standards for overseas spending. We will continue to be accountable to parliament and to taxpayers for how we spend UK aid.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the level of the funding gap for the UN Global Humanitarian Response for Yemen; and what steps her Department is taking to help (a) close that gap and (b) meet the humanitarian need in Yemen.

James Cleverly: We are extremely concerned about the lack of funding for the UN’s humanitarian response in Yemen, which is constraining the UN’s ability to address the devastating humanitarian situation, now being compounded by COVID-19.In response, the UK has committed £160 million for the current financial year, the third highest pledge at the 2020 Yemen Humanitarian Pledging Conference. We have already disbursed 32% of this funding and will have disbursed over 50% by the end of July.Our new funding aims to provide support to at least 300,000 vulnerable people each month to help buy food and household essentials, treat 40,000 children for malnutrition and provide 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.We are also actively encouraging international donors to urgently provide funding to the UN humanitarian response ahead of Yemen’s expected COVID-19 peak in late July.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of demand for humanitarian assistance in Yemen in the next six months.

James Cleverly: The UK is extremely concerned that Yemen’s devastating humanitarian crisis, already the world’s largest, is set to further deteriorate given the onset of COVID-19.24 million were already in need of humanitarian assistance and COVID-19 is now spreading rapidly. UK funded modelling predicts that there are now over 1 million infections and in a worst-case scenario, there could be between 62,000 and 85,000 deaths.Alongside the significant direct impacts of COVID-19, the virus is exacerbating existing humanitarian needs. Getting accurate data on the level of need in Yemen is very challenging, but we expect that forthcoming food analysis will project a further deterioration in the situation with even more people in need over the coming months.At the same time, the UN's ability to respond is severely constrained by a short fall of over one billion in funding this year. The UK will continue to urge other donors on the need to urgently provide funding to the UN. Donors should pledge more and disburse quickly ahead of Yemen’s expected COVID-19 peak of late July.

USA: Remdesivir

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the US Administration's decision to purchase global supplies of Remdesivir for the treatment of patients with covid-19 on equitable access to covid-19 treatments for countries in the Global South.

Wendy Morton: Supply of Remdesivir will be made possible for 127 low and middle-income countries through Gilead’s non-exclusive voluntary licencing agreements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in Egypt, India and Pakistan, ensuring equitable access to treatment. The UK supports voluntary approaches to sharing intellectual property such as non-exclusive voluntary licencing agreements, which promote access whilst retaining the incentives needed for further innovation.

Afghanistan: Land Mines

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to (a) review the funding strategy for de-mining in Afghanistan through the UN and (b) commit to holding the United Nations Mine Action Service to the same level of scrutiny as de-mining non-governmental organisations.

Nigel Adams: The current Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Afghanistan runs until the end of March 2021. We are currently reviewing our approach to Mine Action in Afghanistan beyond March 2021.We remain committed to holding all Mine Action partners to the same level of scrutiny, in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. UN partners are asked to provide frequent, detailed evidence that demonstrates progress and value for money for the UK taxpayer. UNMAS meets regularly with DFID officials to review results and discuss actions to mitigate programme risks.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Disability

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to implement the Department's disability inclusion strategy in the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from September 2020.

Wendy Morton: This Government is committed to supporting a long-term movement for change on the neglected global issue of disability inclusion. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this agenda.The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy is expected to conclude later in the year, which will define the Government’s ambition for the UK’s role in the world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the FCDO. Both the review and the merger are evidence of the Prime Minister’s commitment to a unified British foreign and development policy that will maximise our influence around the world, including on disability inclusion.

Overseas Aid: Disability

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Official Development Assistance spending of Government Departments will be reported against the OECD-DAC disability marker after September 2020.

Wendy Morton: The UK will continue reporting the disability policy marker in the official development assistance OECD-DAC annual data return after September 2020.

Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps she has taken to uphold the UN Global Goals promise to leave no-one behind.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government is committed to playing its part in Global efforts to achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind. Through both our COVID-19 response and in our future plans, we will continue to pay particular attention to the needs of the most vulnerable. We are working hard to ensure the needs and priorities of women and girls, people with disabilities, and vulnerable and at-risk groups in the crisis are met in the global response to the pandemic.

Medicine: Research

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to develop guidelines on how to ensure a public return on public investment on biomedical Research & Development investments in advance of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

James Duddridge: DFID routes ODA funding for research into the development of drugs, vaccines and other medical tools, through Product Development Partnerships and other not-for-profit organisations. Product Development Partnerships are not for profit organisations that are jointly created and funded by international institutions, national governments, private foundations and industry. These act as platforms to bring together the best scientific expertise alongside resources, to prevent and address diseases that affect low and middle-income countries. Whereas industrial Research and Development is mostly driven by profit - Product Development Partnerships are primarily driven by patient needs and de-link the cost of a new product from the cost of its development. These third-party organisations have the expertise to ensure that, once developed, products are affordable and accessible to provide low and middle-income countries with the tools they need to tackle diseases in their country, maximising the public return on our health Research and Development investments. No additional guidelines are considered necessary.Merging the Departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy and ensure that all of our national efforts including our aid budget and expertise are used to make the UK a force for good in the world. The work of UK Aid to reduce poverty will remain central to the new department’s mission.

Department for Education

Teachers: Recruitment

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) BAME, (b) women, and (c) disabled teachers were recruited in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information on newly qualified teachers (NQTs) [1] entering the workforce annually through the School Workforce Census. For entrants to be counted they must be in the workforce as of the census day which falls in November each year. Teachers that are recruited but leave before the census day are not counted.Table 1 shows the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of NQTs recruited since 2011 that identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) or female.School workforce data has only been collected since 2010, so only eight years of data has been provided.BAME teachers include all ethnic groups apart from the White ethnic groups (White British, White Irish and White Other).Reporting of disability status is relatively low in the School Workforce Census. Only 42 percent of entrant records in the November 2018 School Workforce Census provide their disability status. As such, figures have not been provided.Note that the data provided is from an internal analytical database which has marginal differences to the total number of NQTs and Deferred NQTs in the official publication due to using an updated methodology.Table 1: FTE NQT entrants over Census YearsCensus YearFTE Female NQT entrantsFTE BAME NQT entrantsFTE NQT Entrants201118,2672,05424,889201221,2042,44528,665201321,0072,48528,140201421,9022,68129,255201522,0202,84129,499201620,9703,09528,257201719,4832,91526,272201819,3203,06926,192 [1] Newly qualified teachers in this response include NQTs and Deferred NQTs (delayed NQT year by a year after qualified teacher status obtained).

Primary Education: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that primacy school pupils can take part in physical education safely when they return to school as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: The Department is working to ensure that schools are fully supported as pupils return now and are able to give pupils opportunities to be physically active during the school day. Schools are free to organise and deliver a PE curriculum that suits the needs of all their pupils whilst following COVID-19 government guidelines. The latest guidance for schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings. The Government’s intention is for all children to return to school from September and will publish guidance soon. The Department is considering what further advice to provide on PE and school sport in that guidance. The Department has worked closely with nurseries, schools, physical activity experts and sport providers so that pupils who have not yet been able to return to school have advice and resources to participate in regular exercise. The Department has published online educational resources approved by subject experts for schools and parents, to help children to learn at home; these resources include those for PE. The Government remains committed to supporting schools to make good use of their sports facilities and to promote physical literacy and competitive sport. We plan to update the School Sport Activity Action Plan with longer-term proposals to support schools and providers to work together to support children’s activity levels to continue to rise after they return to school.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council: Computers

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many laptops were provided to Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council by his Department in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers.We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged and vulnerable children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers.The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and allocated devices to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices. All local authorities and academy trusts can place orders for the devices they need.The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers we have delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy trusts as of 30 June, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data. This includes 635 devices to Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council for children with a social worker and care leavers.

Children: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government has taken to identify and protect children who may be at increased risk from safeguarding issues as a result of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Vicky Ford: Ensuring that vulnerable children remain protected is a top priority for the government. From the outset, we asked schools to remain open for children who are vulnerable, as well as children of critical workers. This remains the case as some year groups return to school.The government has provided an unprecedented package of support for vulnerable children, including:Over £3.2 billion so far, with a further £500 million announced on 2 July, bringing the total to £3.7 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures, including on children’s services.£1.6 million of funding for the NSPCC to help promote and expand their national UK helpline which provides advice and guidance and support to adults reporting safeguarding concerns. Since the start of the campaign on 4 May, the NSPCC helpline has seen the number of calls and emails grow by 66% and has made over 9,000 referrals, with one out of every 9 referrals going to emergency services such as the police and children’s social care.The Adoption Support Fund – £8 million to help families under pressure as a result of the outbreak.The Innovation Programme – more than £12 million for 14 projects tackling increased risk, for example from domestic violence and supporting teenagers at risk of exploitation.See, Hear, Respond – £7 million partnership of national children’s charities and local organisations to provide targeted support to vulnerable children, young people and their families who are affected by COVID-19.Laptops and tablets for children with social workers and care leavers to help them keep in touch with the services they need, as well as 4G internet devices for connecting to the internet. As of 30 June, over 200,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been dispatched or delivered to local authorities and academy trusts.Our Regional Education and Care Teams are working with local authorities directly to ensure the systems and processes for maintaining contact with vulnerable children are robust in every local authority in England.We have also made temporary legislative changes to help reduce pressure on the system and enable children's services to continue to support vulnerable children during these unprecedented times.Our latest guidance on supporting vulnerable children and young people during the COVID-19 outbreak was updated on 1 July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services.The department has issued a suite of guidance to help and support schools and colleges. This includes interim safeguarding guidance, which is clear that schools and colleges should revise their child protection policies to reflect new arrangements. The guidance sets out that it is important that all staff who interact with children, including online, continue to look out for signs a child may be at risk. The safeguarding guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.Schools and colleges should continue to have regard to statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, as per their legislative duty or funding agreement requirements, or both.

Academic Year: Free School Meals

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Government has made on allocating funding through the Holiday Activities and Food scheme.

Vicky Ford: The Holiday Activities and Food programme are integral to our approach to provide healthy food to children over the summer. It will ensure thousands of disadvantaged children have access to healthy meals and holiday activities in summer 2020 – building on the success of the 2018 and 2019 programmes – and remaining committed to supporting children and families through the disruption caused by COVID-19. On Monday 22 June the Department for Education published an announcement with the details of the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the areas that were successful in receiving the funding for 2020. Grant funding was allocated based on a competitive bidding process. The successful bidders and areas are:StreetGames (Newcastle, North East region);Gateshead Council (Gateshead - North East region);Edsential (Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Wirral - North West region);Spring North (Blackburn with Darwen - North West);Leeds Community Foundation (Leeds and Bradford - Yorkshire & the Humber region);Voluntary Action Sheffield (Sheffield - Yorkshire & the Humber region);Suffolk County Council (Suffolk - East of England region);Mayor’s Fund for London (Lambeth and Southwark - London);Tower Hamlets Local Authority (Tower Hamlets - London);The Romsey School (Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight - South East region).

Ormskirk School: Leasehold

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will place a copy of the lease pertaining to Ormskirk School in the Library.

Nick Gibb: Ormskirk School moved to its new accommodation in 2004. The land had been part of the site of the former Cross Hall High School, a community school, and was transferred by Lancashire County Council (LCC) in February 2006 to five named individuals who were trustees of the Foundation Trust of the school. The Department for Education was not party to that transfer. The 2006 Charity Commission scheme for the Foundation Trust provides for the Foundation Trust to retain the land for use as a voluntary school. Copies of the title number LAN28839 are available on request from LCC or the Foundation Trust and the Land Registry. A copy of the title has been shared with the Department as part of the conversion of the school to become an academy.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 Jul 2020 to Question 60772 on Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes, whether a child that becomes eligible for free school meal vouchers during the summer period can be granted a voucher for the remaining weeks.

Vicky Ford: New applicants are eligible up to the end of a school’s summer term. If a school receives a claim for an eligible child after the final ordering date of at least one week before their school term ends but before the start of the school’s summer holidays, it will be possible for the school to place an exceptional order for that child via the Edenred system.If families are facing hardship, they can access the Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant. Further government support is available for families struggling as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. If families need urgent help, they can contact their local council to find out what services are available in their area: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-local-help.

Schools: Coronavirus

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help mitigate the loss of income from facility hire by schools during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Nick Gibb: We recognise that over the last three months, schools will have lost income from facility hire and this will put pressure on budgets.Where schools have members of staff delivering services funded from self-generated income, we have advised that they should first look to redeploy these staff or use existing budgets to absorb the cost. After having looked at all other options, schools have been able to consider using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The Department has provided additional guidance for schools in this situation which can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care.

Foreign Students: Fees and Charges

Simon Baynes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the numbers of overseas students of the difference in tuition fees for British nationals living in Britain and those who have lived overseas for longer than three years.

Michelle Donelan: To qualify for home fee status in England, a person must have settled status or a recognised connection to the United Kingdom and meet the relevant ordinary residence requirements. Most persons must have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands or, in some cases, the European Economic Area or Switzerland for the 3 years prior to the first day of the first academic year of their course, excluding periods of temporary absence.No assessment has been made of the number of British nationals who do not qualify for home fee status in England by virtue of their residence.

Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 67720 on Children: Coronavirus, if he will publish the ongoing analysis of how the Adoption and Children (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 are being used.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 67720 on Children: Coronavirus, on what date he plans to seek permission to make his statement to Parliament before the summer recess on the Adoption and Children (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020.

Vicky Ford: I will make a statement to Parliament before summer recess on the Adoption and Children (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, which will be informed by the department’s ongoing analysis of how the regulations are being used.

Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language Disorders

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that (a) children’s early language and communication development and (b) the timely identification and support for speech, language and communication needs are prioritised in (a) local and (b) national covid-19recovery plans.

Vicky Ford: Supporting the most vulnerable children and young people, including those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), is a priority for us, especially at this time. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, educational settings have been asked to ensure that vulnerable children and young people can attend where appropriate.Local authorities are responsible for their own strategic planning and have statutory requirements to offer SLCN provision where a child or young person requires it as part of their education, health and care (EHC) plan. Since May, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been necessary to modify the duty on local authorities and health commissioners so that they could use their ‘reasonable endeavours’ to secure or arrange the specified special educational and health care provision in EHC plans. However, we are committed to removing these flexibilities as soon as possible and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has confirmed that, unless the evidence changes, he will not be issuing further national notices to modify this duty.We have also been working to support early language and communication development specifically. Since 2018, we have committed more than £60 million to programmes to improve early language and literacy. We will work with the sector to explore how best to continue to support children’s early development, including through the Early Years Foundation Stage reforms and the department’s Hungry Little Minds campaign, which we will continue to use to provide support for parents to develop their children’s early language and literacy.More widely, we are ensuring that resources are available. We have announced a package worth £1 billion to ensure that schools across England have the resources they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time, with extra support for those who need it most. £650 million will be spent on ensuring all pupils have the chance to catch up and supporting schools to rise to the challenge. For pupils with complex needs, we strongly encourage schools to spend this funding on catch-up support to address their individual needs, which could include speech and language therapy where appropriate. We will set out how this funding will be distributed between individual schools shortly.We will also roll out a National Tutoring Programme, worth up to £350 million, which will deliver one-to-one tuition to the most disadvantaged young people. More details are available here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/.We are providing the Oak National Academy with an additional £4.3 million to produce another 10,000 lessons over the course of the next academic year. This includes for the Oak National Academy's specialist curriculum, which includes speech and language therapy.

Overseas Students: USA

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the recent decision of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement that international students offered only online university courses in that country must leave the US, whether he plans to take steps to encourage international students to study in the UK.

Michelle Donelan: The government has been clear that our world-leading universities, which thrive on being global institutions, will always be open to international students. Engaging closely with the devolved administrations and the higher education sector, we are working to reassure prospective international students that UK higher education is ‘open for business’, remains-world class and is a safe place to study. This includes continued work with Study UK (the government’s international student recruitment campaign led by the British Council), support for the sector-led #WeAreTogether campaign and a package of bespoke communications that will directly target prospective international students, making clear our world-leading offer.We are also taking steps to promote the new graduate route, which will provide a non-extendable period of leave to stay and work in the UK at any skill level. The government announced on 1 July, as part of the new graduate route, that international students who complete a PhD from summer 2021 can stay in the UK for 3 years after study to live and work. Students who have successfully completed undergraduate and master’s degrees will be able to stay for 2 years. This represents a significant improvement in our offer to international students and will help ensure our higher education sector remains competitive internationally.Furthermore, on 22 June, with my counterparts in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, I wrote to prospective international students to outline the support and guidance available to international students who are considering studying in the UK from the autumn: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/letter_to_prospective_international_students.pdf. This letter reiterates a number of flexibilities that the government has already announced for international students including, amongst other mitigations, confirmation that distance/blended learning will be permitted for the 2020/21 academic year provided that international students’ sponsors intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as circumstances allow, and that international students present in the UK before 6 April 2021 will be eligible for the graduate route if they meet the other requirements of the route when it is introduced in summer 2021.Guidance published on 24 March provides a temporary work-around for students who need to undertake distance learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is reiterated in guidance for short-term and Tier 4 students updated on 1 June: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tier-4-sponsors-migrants-and-short-term-students.The government is also in discussions with Universities UK and other sector representatives on a regular basis to ensure we are united in welcoming international students to the UK. In particular, we expect international students to be appropriately supported upon arrival by their chosen university during these unprecedented times – especially those who will be subject to the 14-day self-isolation period.The UK’s new International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, will assist with opening up export growth opportunities for the whole UK education sector, which will include attracting international students to UK universities. Alongside Sir Steve’s appointment, our review of the International Education Strategy this autumn will respond to the new context and the challenges posed by COVID-19 across all education settings to ensure we can continue to welcome international students in the future.

Children and Young People: Coronavirus

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who will be responsible for (a) setting up and (b) managing the Parent and Pupil Online Panel to help monitor the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on children and young people.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how information from the Parent and Pupil Online Panel will be used to inform education policy.

Nick Gibb: Researchers at the Department for Education are currently developing a research panel with pupils and parents. We will confirm how this will be set up and managed in due course. As is standard practice, the research data and analysis will be used to underpin policy decisions and communications. Data from pupils and parents will also help us monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on these groups.

Children and Young People: Internet

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for how long his Department plans to pay for internet access, through broadband or 4G routers, for children and young people eligible for technology support.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and online social care services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we have provided 4G wireless routers to them so that they can learn at home. The 4G wireless routers will provide paid-for internet access for six months from when they are delivered to the local authority or academy trust. The Department has launched a service to provide children and young people free access to BT wifi hotspots until the end of December – this date will remain under review. 10,000 families will initially be able to access the scheme. This offer is currently being piloted and will be rolled out across England in the coming months. We are currently working with BT to expand this offer to allow more children to access the internet through their network of BT wifi hotspots. We are also working with the major telecommunications companies to improve internet connectivity for disadvantaged and vulnerable families. For families who rely on a mobile internet connection, mobile network operators are working to provide access to free additional data while COVID-19 requires children to learn from home and more social care services are being delivered online.

Free School Meals: Immigrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria he plans to use to determine for how long families with No Recourse to Public Funds will have access to free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Vicky Ford: During the COVID-19 outbreak, we are temporarily extending free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds. The extension of free school meal eligibility to these groups will continue while the COVID-19 outbreak impacts upon schools, and it includes access to the COVID Summer Food Fund.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase funding in the early years education sector.

Vicky Ford: We are planning to spend over £3.6 billion on early education entitlements in 2020-21. Future funding will be a matter for the next spending review.The government is committed to supporting families with their childcare costs. Last October, we announced increases in our hourly rates for the 2-year-old entitlement and in most areas for the 3- and 4-year-old entitlement, effective from April of this year.We also announced that supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools will continue until the end of the financial year 2020-21.During the COVID-19 outbreak, we continue to pay local authorities their regular instalments of Dedicated Schools Grant, including the early years block, as usual.We continue to work closely with the early years sector to understand how it can best be supported to ensure that sufficient childcare is available for those returning to work now, and for all families who need it in the longer term.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 60716, how families of children who become eligible for free school meals during the summer holidays will be able to claim the national school food voucher or alternative from their school during that period.

Vicky Ford: School offices will be closed during the summer holiday period. If families are facing hardship, they can access the Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant.Further government support is available for families struggling as a result of COVID-19. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support.If families need urgent help, they can contact their local council to find out what services are available in their area.

Supply Teachers: Coronavirus

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with supply teaching agencies on (a) furlough and (b) income support for supply teachers over the 2020 summer holidays.

Nick Gibb: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.The Government has provided clear guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in relation to agencies and agency workers. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#agency-workers-including-those-employed-by-umbrella-companies.Schools are under no obligation to continue to pay supply teachers that they directly hire or hire via agencies once the supply teacher’s contract has ended. Typically, supply teachers are not contracted to work over the summer holidays when schools are closed.Supply teachers employed via an agency who had previously been furloughed via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for at least 3 consecutive weeks, taking place any time between 1 March 2020 and 30 June, can continue to be furloughed until the scheme ends on 31 October, so long as their employer chooses to continue to furlough them.

Black Curriculum

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will implement the recommendations of the Black Curriculum.

Nick Gibb: The Department has responded directly to The Black Curriculum’s campaign. The reply sets out in detail how the history curriculum already enables the teaching of Black history, as do other curriculums across other subject areas. The substance of our reply to The Black Curriculum is based on the national curriculum’s history programmes of study, available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study. The national curriculum is a framework setting out the content of what the Department expects schools to cover in each subject. The curriculum does not set out how curriculum subjects, or topics within the subjects, should be taught. The Department believes teachers should be able to use their own knowledge and expertise to determine how they teach their pupils, and to make choices about what they teach. As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies, and how different groups have contributed to the development of Britain, and this can include the voices and experience of Black people. The flexibility within the history curriculum means that Black British history can already be included.

National Careers Service: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government's policy paper, A plan for jobs, published on 8 July 2020, how the additional £32 million for the National Careers Service will be funded; and whether that funding will be used to encourage STEM career paths.

Gillian Keegan: HM Treasury will provide £32 million in additional funding to the Department for Education over the next two years. The funding will ensure that 269,000 more people in England will receive impartial and tailored information, advice and guidance to meet their individual needs and circumstances within the context of current economic circumstances. The careers advice provided will draw on labour market trends and growth areas including opportunities available in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.

Ministry of Justice

Legal Profession: Equality

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his Department is doing to tackle the diversity gap in the upper levels of the legal profession.

Alex Chalk: The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of Government. Statutory responsibility for encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board (LSB). Ministry of Justice Ministers encourage the sector to ensure it more closely represents the diverse society it serves through ongoing engagement with the regulators and the legal profession.In 2017 the LSB published revised guidance for legal services regulators for encouraging a diverse workforce, and introduced new transparency duties at firm and chambers level to monitor and publish diversity statistics. In 2019 the LSB published a summary of the progress of regulators against four diversity outcomes, which showed positive examples of a new approach to diversity, but also areas where further action is required.

Matrimonial Proceedings

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Family Justice Council and (b) other stakeholders on the use of Mesher Orders in divorce cases.

Alex Chalk: There is guidance on Mesher Orders within the Family Justice Council’s Guidance on “Financial Needs” on Divorce (April 2018 – 2nd edition.). This was produced following the Law Commission’s recommendation in 2014 that the Family Justice Council prepare guidance on “financial needs” on divorce. The Department has not had recent discussions with the Family Justice Council or other stakeholders about Mesher Orders.During the passage of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill through Parliament, the Government committed to set up a Lord Chancellor’s working group to conduct a review of the law of financial provision on divorce. This review will be led by the evidence, which is yet to be gathered, on whether there are problems with the current law and, if so, how these might be addressed. The Ministry of Justice is now considering terms of reference and membership of the working group. The Government will seek to ensure that the working group has a balance of members from across different professions.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Equality

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of undertaking equality impact assessments for staff returning to work with HM Courts and Tribunal Service which take into account an employee's protected characteristics.

Chris Philp: HMCTS have comprehensively assessed risk to staff and users and are ensuring the safety of anyone who comes into our buildings by applying published court and tribunal coronavirus safety controls. These have been endorsed by Public Health England and Public Health Wales. Additionally, a process for checking compliance at each site is in place, with controls reviewed and monitored at each court and tribunal building.Following the recent publication of additional PHE guidance, ‘Beyond the Data’ HMCTS are conducting specific recorded conversations for any individuals of BAME ethnicities, colleagues who are over 70 or male colleagues of working age. This has formed part of the current return to work process and will require individuals to self-identify as being from one of the specified groups. For individuals who are already in the workplace, this has formed part of their 4 weekly Keeping in Touch conversation with their line manager. The tool is being used with Line managers to capture and record what additional support or interventions are being considered to ensure colleagues feel comfortable and safe in the workplace. HMCTS HR will continually review the tool and its suitability, in line with central Civil Service Employee Policy guidance.Our priority is to keep all court users safe and we staff for their service during this unprecedented public health emergency.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Equality

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has undertaken an equality impact assessment of the risk assessment tool for bringing staff back into work at HM Courts and Tribunal Service.

Chris Philp: HMCTS have comprehensively assessed risk to staff and users and are ensuring the safety of anyone who comes into our buildings by applying published court and tribunal coronavirus safety controls. These have been endorsed by Public Health England and Public Health Wales. Additionally, a process for checking compliance at each site is in place, with controls reviewed and monitored at each court and tribunal building.Following the recent publication of additional PHE guidance, ‘Beyond the Data’ HMCTS are conducting specific recorded conversations for any individuals of BAME ethnicities, colleagues who are over 70 or male colleagues of working age. This has formed part of the current return to work process and will require individuals to self-identify as being from one of the specified groups. For individuals who are already in the workplace, this has formed part of their 4 weekly Keeping in Touch conversation with their line manager. The tool is being used with Line managers to capture and record what additional support or interventions are being considered to ensure colleagues feel comfortable and safe in the workplace. HMCTS HR will continually review the tool and its suitability, in line with central Civil Service Employee Policy guidance.Our priority is to keep all court users safe and we staff for their service during this unprecedented public health emergency.

Marriage: Humanism

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress has been made on granting legal recognition to humanist marriages; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling Senedd Cymru to legalise humanist marriages in Wales.

Alex Chalk: The Government announced in June 2019 that the Law Commission will conduct a fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent. The Government looks forward to publication of the Law Commission’s consultation paper in September and, following the final report, will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.Marriage law remains a reserved matter.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of people who have been released early from prison as a result of the covid-19 outbreak were convicted of serious violent crimes.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with prison governors on the early release of prisoners as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of the prisoners released early as a result of the covid-19 outbreak were managed by (a) Community Rehabilitation Companies and (b) the National Probation Service on release.

Lucy Frazer: On 4 April, the Ministry of Justice announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme (ECTR). This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period.No prisoners released under the ECTR scheme have been convicted of serious violent crimes as offenders serving sentences for violent crimes are not eligible for this scheme.Further information can be found in the published guidance on gov.ukhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/881061/end-custody-temporary-release.pdfAll offenders released on ECTR are subject to electronic monitoring, which is in place before they are released from custody. Offenders released under ECTR are not subject to statutory probation supervision. However, upon release Community Rehabilitation Companies will deploy Through the Gate staff to ensure each offender has a nominated offender manager to remain in contact with for the duration of the temporary licence.In addition to ECTR, prisoners in the following groups will merit consideration for compassionate temporary release on a Special Purpose Licence:a. Pregnant womenb. Prisoners with their babies in custodyc. Those defined by the NHS guidelines as ‘extremely vulnerable’ to Covid-19Prisoners who are eligible and who meet the criteria above can apply for release on temporary licence (ROTL). A Special Purpose Licence is one of the provisions of the existing ROTL Policy Framework. Only those prisoners who pass a rigorous risk assessment and approval process, which includes input from Community Offender Managers, the police and other statutory agencies where appropriate will be released. These Covid-19 releases under Special Purpose Licence will involve some prisoners who would not in normal times be released on temporary licence, but for whom it may be appropriate in these unique circumstances.Further information can be found in the published guidance on gov.ukhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/881060/covid19-use-compassionate-rotl.pdfAll prisoners released on a Covid-19 Special Purpose Licence are subject to supervision and support from the prison by their Prison Offender Manager and in the community by their assigned Community Offender Manager. Some prisoners are also subject to a daily curfew and GPS tagging as part of their individual risk management plan.Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service provides ongoing support to establishments including direct conversations with governors where required. Guidance has also been issued to governors to support them and their staff in the delivery of the early release schemes.

Department for International Trade

Riot Control Weapons: Hong Kong

Tom Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department authorised the sale and export of (a) tear gas, (b) rubber bullets and (c) riot gear to Hong Kong in the last 24 months.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend for South West Surrey, then Foreign Secretary, announced on 25th June 2019 that we would not issue any further export licences for crowd control equipment to Hong Kong unless we were satisfied that concerns raised about human rights and fundamental freedoms have been thoroughly addressed. Further, I can confirm that there are no extant licences for crowd control equipment to Hong Kong. HM Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations on GOV.UK. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. This information is available at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. The most recent publication will be on 14th July 2020, for licences issued up to the end of March 2020.

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which Minister in her Department was responsible for the approval of any arms export licences for (a) Saudi Arabia and (b) its coalition partners from 17 July 2016 to 9 January 2018.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade is ultimately responsible for decisions on all strategic export licences. Her predecessor, my Rt Hon. Friend for North Somerset, held the post during the dates referred to.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to provide additional long-term support to local authorities facing funding shortfalls.

Mr Simon Clarke: Councils across the country are supporting communities, protecting the most vulnerable and helping the NHS in our efforts to combat Covid-19. In order to meet additional cost pressures, the Secretary of State announced further measures as part of a comprehensive package on 2 July. The package included an additional £500 million of support for councils for the coming weeks and months of recovery. This is in addition to the £3.2 billion already announced, taking the total unringfenced funding given to councils to help with the additional costs of coronavirus to over £3.7 billion. In total, the Government has provided £5 billion in cashflow measures and almost £28 billion in additional funding to councils, businesses and communities to ensure they can meet the unique pressures that the Covid-19 pandemic has placed upon them.The Secretary of State has also announced measures to address lost income, including:a co-payment scheme to cover irrecoverable Sales, Fees and Charges income in 20/21 with the Government covering 75 per cent of losses beyond 5 per cent of planned income;phased repayment of Collection Fund deficits over the next 3 years; anda commitment to determine what support is needed to help councils meet the pressures of irrecoverable tax income at the Spending Review.The Spending Review, later this year, will be the opportunity to look at funding for local government in the round, and we will communicate our plans for 2021-22 as early as we can through the provisional local government finance settlement. We will continue to engage councils on our approach to the next financial year.

Homelessness: Young People

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department had to provide additional funding to help end youth homelessness.

Luke Hall: This Government implemented the Homelessness Reduction Act, the most ambitious reform to homelessness legislation in decades, which placed new duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. means that many more young people who may not previously have been eligible for support, are now being helped to prevent homelessness before it occurs.The Act also places a duty on public bodies, including Children’s Services, Youth Offending Institutions and Youth Offending Teams ensuring better partnership working with local authorities to prevent youth homelessness.We have also put in place bespoke support for local authorities through our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes dedicated youth homelessness advisor roles that have a commitment to work with local authorities to proactively promote positive joint working across housing authorities and children’s services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities. Alongside this, the department has funded St Basil’s, a specialist youth homelessness charity, to develop and disseminate best practice pathways for preventing youth homelessness, as well as running the annual Youth Homelessness Parliament, giving young people a voice on the issues that affect them.The Youth Advisers are working closely with local authorities on the particular challenges that young people and care leavers are facing during COVID-19.Government has also provided significant additional funding to support people sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough during the pandemic. At the beginning of the crisis, our priority was to urgently bring vulnerable people inside so they could self-isolate and stop the virus spreading. We backed this with £3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities to support vulnerable rough sleepers, and a further £3.7 billion to help councils to manage the impacts of COVID-19, including supporting homeless people.On 24 June we announced that we are providing local authorities with a further £105 million to enable them to best support the 15,000 people placed into emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Private Rented Housing: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to prevent the eviction of private tenants after 23 August 2020.

Christopher Pincher: To help prevent tenants getting into financial hardship or rent arrears, the Government has put in place an unprecedented support package. This includes support for business to pay staff salaries, as well as boosting the welfare system with over £6.5 billion. These significant financial measures will help support tenants to continue to pay their living costs, including rental payments.Landlords must follow strict procedures if they want to gain possession of their property, depending on the type of tenancy agreement in place and the terms of it. This currently includes providing tenants with at least 3 months notice.My Department is working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary on arrangements. These include new rules, to ensure that when the suspension of possession proceedings ends, the courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions within the current legislative framework and that the most vulnerable tenants will get the help they need.

English Language: Education

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have paid English Language Schools Business Rate Relief;  what discussions he has had with representatives from local authorities that have not paid that relief, and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Department does not hold information on the number of local authorities that have granted business rates relief in respect of particular types of properties.The Department published guidance on the expanded retail discount on 25 March 2020. The guidance states that eligible properties are those used as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; those used by visiting members of the public for assembly and leisure; or hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation. It is for local authorities to decide whether properties, including English language schools, fall within these categories.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities that plan to issue s114 notices during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Department recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils are facing as a result of the current Covid-19 crisis. We have made £3.7 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the Covid-19 pandemic; this includes £500 million of additional funding announced by the Secretary of State on 2 July. The Government also announced a further component of its comprehensive approach to support councils in addressing their income losses, including a co-payment scheme to cover irrecoverable sales, fees and charges income in 20/21. We also confirmed that we will extend the period over which councils must manage shortfalls in local tax income relating to 2020-21, from 1 to 3 years, and we will announce further details of how we will support local authorities to manage tax losses at the comprehensive spending review later in the year.The Department continues to engage regularly with the local government sector, which includes our ongoing financial monitoring survey and direct contact with councils and their representatives, local Leaders and Chief Executives. If the Section 151 officer of a council judges that the council is unable to set or maintain a balanced budget, they must consider the possibility of a Section 114 notice. We have worked closely with CIPFA who have temporarily amended their guidance on the use of Section 114 notices to further encourage local authorities to make contact with the Department in the first instance to advise of any immediate financial concerns.

Coronavirus: Government Assistance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable had registered for Government coronavirus support for the clinically extremely vulnerable as of 13 May 2020.

Christopher Pincher: 341,463 clinically extremely vulnerable individuals had registered to request support with food and/or basic care as at 13 May 2020, using either the website https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or dedicated call center helpline. Everyone who has requested support with food has had their data passed to supermarkets for access to priority delivery slots. There are around 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable individuals in England, and the vast majority of those registering their needs do not request support.

Private Rented Housing: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he plans to provide to landlords of clinically vulnerable tenants, who are currently in the shielded category, on accessing rental properties to carry out routine inspections and repairs after 1 August 2020 .

Christopher Pincher: The advice for those shielding is due to be relaxed from 31 July 2020, so that from 1 August 2020, individuals in the clinically extremely vulnerable group will no longer be advised to shield. From 1 August 2020, the guidance given to the clinically extremely vulnerable group is due to be in line with advice currently given to the clinically vulnerable group.Currently, the Government guidance is that no repair or maintenance work should be carried out in any household where an individual is being shielded, unless that work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household.From 1 August 2020, advice for those currently in the clinically extremely vulnerable group is due to be relaxed, allowing tradespeople to carry out routine inspections and repairs in households that were previously shielding. It is important that inspections and repairs are carried out in accordance with the latest guidance on working safely in people’s homes. Where these visits occur, landlords and tenants should work together to make prior arrangements to ensure that social distancing is maintained, and appropriate hygiene measures are followed.Published guidance will be updated accordingly.

Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, (Amendment 2b).

Christopher Pincher: We have no plans to amend the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 at this time

Housing: Construction

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish his Department’s response to the consultation on permitted development rights.

Christopher Pincher: In August 2019, a joint consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was launched to consider amending permitted development rights to support increased mobile coverage and 5G deployment.The consultation closed on 4 November 2019. The Government is considering the replies and will issue a response in due course. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, if the proposals are taken forward, we anticipate undertaking a further consultation on the detail of those proposals.

Public Lavatories: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to issue guidance on safely reopening public toilets to enable people with (a) inflammatory bowel disease and (b) other hidden disabilities to feel comfortable leaving home as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Mr Simon Clarke: Public hygiene is of the utmost importance, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, and enabling access to toilets safely is vital. Closed toilets may disproportionately impact certain groups who for health reasons rely on access to public toilets to leave their homes.   Government has made clear through COVID-19 guidance that public toilets, portable toilets and toilets inside premises should be kept open and carefully managed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.   The guidance outlines measures such as signs to promote good hygiene, providing suitable handwashing and hand drying facilities, and increasing frequency of cleaning facilities.   The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and the Minister for Environment recently wrote to local authorities urging them to reopen public toilets. The letter also highlighted the disproportionate impact closed toilets may have on certain groups who for health reasons rely on access to public toilets to be able to leave their homes.

Shrewsbury Town Council: Shropshire Council

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make a financial assessment of the effect on value for money for the public purse of merging Shrewsbury Town Council with Shropshire Unitary Authority.

Mr Simon Clarke: Shrewsbury Town Council was set up when the unitary Shropshire Council was established in 2009 and currently is responsible for such matters as the town market, street lighting, and public toilets. If local people believe these responsibilities would be better exercised by Shropshire Council, it is open to them to petition that Council to undertake a community governance review to consider a recommendation that the Town Council be dissolved.

Local Government Finance

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to financially support local councils ahead of the 2020 spending review.

Mr Simon Clarke: On 2 July, we announced a further £500 million in unringfenced grant funding for local authorities to meet pressures they are facing in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Alongside this, we announced a co-payment scheme to cover irrecoverable sales, fees and charges income in 2020-21 and confirmed that we will extend the period over which councils can manage shortfalls in local tax income relating to 2020-21, from 1 to 3 years. This is on top of £3.2 billion of unringfenced funding already provided, together with various measures to support councils in meeting cashflow issues, and takes the total package of support across Government for councils, communities and businesses to nearly £28 billion.

Digital Technology: Infrastructure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much of the £900 million for shovel ready projects will be spent on digital infrastructure in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.

Mr Simon Clarke: Through the Getting Building Fund we are investing £900 million in a wide range of infrastructure projects to stimulate job creation, and support economic recovery. We have provided all Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships with a funding allocation and are working with them over the coming weeks to agree the projects which the Fund will support so that delivery can get underway as soon as possible.

Ministry of Defence

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many incidents have been logged as alleged international humanitarian law violations reportedly conducted by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since March 2015.

James Heappey: As at 4 July, the number of alleged instances of breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Yemen listed on the "Tracker" database maintained by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is 535. Of these, 19 are duplicate entries, which means that some incidents will have been recorded on more than one occasion likely because of the incomplete nature of reporting.

Military Bases: USA

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to whom US bases (a) NSA/NRO Menwith Hill and (b) the Joint Intelligence and Analysis Center at the US base at Croughton are accountable to in the absence of meetings of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

James Heappey: The United States Visiting Forces (USVF) are governed by NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951 and the Visiting Forces Act 1952. The Ministry of Defence continues to have oversight of activities at USVF bases in the UK, but does not comment on specific matters of intelligence at military bases.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) speed up and (b) streamline the recruitment process of military personnel.

James Heappey: The Armed Forces have recently introduced measures to improve recruiting performance. These include improved candidate relationship management, a review of medical procedures and policies, and prioritisation of recruitment for key areas. Our re-joiner programmes also aim to expedite the return of skilled and experienced personnel. Officer recruitment is healthy in all three Services and the Financial Year 19/20 has seen an improvement on the previous year in Other Ranks intake by 14% for the Naval Service, 77% for the Army and 25% for the RAF. At Single Service level, we are exploring initiatives to streamline and accelerate recruitment from Commonwealth countries.

Military Aid

Sam Tarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for which countries the armed forces provided training for in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20; and which armed service provided the training for each of those training programmes so provided.

James Heappey: The information requested has been placed in the library of the House.



69743 - List of Countries AF Training Provided to.
(Excel SpreadSheet, 182.22 KB)

AWACS: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant the Answer of 6 July to Question 67564 on AWACS: Procurement, whether all conversion work for E-7 Wedgetail aircraft purchased by the UK will take place in Birmingham.

Jeremy Quin: Yes. As announced by Boeing in May this year, a contract has been signed with STS Aviation, based at Birmingham Airport, to carry out the modification of the base 737 Next Generation civil airliner into E7.

AWACS: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 67566 on AWACS: Procurement, whether he has plans to make a comparative assessment of the costs of (a) support and (b) maintenance for the E-7 Wedgetail for the US and the UK.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence is currently defining the support and maintenance requirements for the RAF E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, and this will involve the evaluation of a number of different options. It will also include a comprehensive investment appraisal to demonstrate that whatever option is selected represents value for money for defence and the taxpayer. While it is too early to provide any specific detail, there are currently no plans for this work to be carried out in the US.

AWACS: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 67566 on AWACS: Procurement, for what reason his Department made the decision not to make a comparative assessment of the cost of (a) support and (b) maintenance work in the US and the UK for the E-7 Wedgetail contract prior to the award of the main contract to Boeing.

Jeremy Quin: It is common with acquisition projects of this scale and complexity for an incremental approach to be adopted, with contracts for different elements of the project being placed at the appropriate time to align delivery with capability requirement. As the aircraft acquisition contract placed with Boeing in March 2019 did not include future support and maintenance for the RAF E-7 Wedgetail fleet, there was no need to undertake such an assessment at that time. That work is being carried out as part of a different phase of the project.

Iraq: Detainees

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 67536 on Ministry of Defence: Iraq Detainees, of the 1,000 civil claims in connection with operations in Iraq, how many cases were brought after (a) three and (b) six years, when calculated from the date the claim was issued, rather than the date the claim was serviced.

Johnny Mercer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 July 2020 to Question 67536.We are unable to provide a complete response to this question, as we have not yet finished calculating the time elapsed between the date of the alleged incident and the date on which the claim was either issued or served in all cases. However, we can say that at least 500 were brought more than six years after the alleged incident and would have been caught by the longstop introduced in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel & Veterans) Bill; at least 250 were brought within three to six years and would have been subject to the Courts discretion; and at least 40 were brought within three years of the alleged incident.



67536 - Iraq Detainees
(Word Document, 15.28 KB)

Iraq: Detainees

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 67536 on Ministry of Defence: Iraq Detainees, how many of the approximately 1,000 civil claims and 1,500 judicial reviews in connection with operations in Iraq, were settled.

Johnny Mercer: A claim is considered "settled" when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has agreed the damages to be awarded to the claimant, and these and the associated legal costs have been paid. I can confirm that, of the approximately 1,000 compensation claims brought in connection with operations in Iraq, approximately 330 have been settled to date and 217 have been either withdrawn or struck out. Discussions regarding the resolution of the remaining 414 claims remain ongoing.With regard to the approximately 1,400 judicial review claims, only a few were resolved by the time Public Interest Lawyers went into administration in 2016. Under a 2017 Court Order, unless the claimant revives their claim within three months of the MOD notifying them that any investigations into their allegations are complete, any remaining claims are to be automatically struck out. This process is ongoing.

Ministry of Defence: Employers' Liability

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the civil claims filed against his Department, under employers' liability, by serving armed forces personnel, veterans and their families were issued after (a) three and (b) six years when calculated from either the date of the alleged incident, or the date of knowledge of the incident, which ever is later, since 2003.

Johnny Mercer: Data has been provided for Employer's Liability claims brought by current and former service personnel and their families since 1 May 2007 where a date of incident has been recorded and the country of incident has been recorded as either Iraq or Afghanistan. Date of knowledge is not recorded on the claims management systems. 522 civil claims have been identified and of these I can confirm that a) 357 were brought within three years of the date of incident b) 125 were brought between three and six years of the date of incident and c) 70 were brought more than six years after the date of incident. The data is held in a number of case management systems each recording data in a different way and it is not possible to answer the question put which asks about Employer's liability in general without exceeding the costs limit.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's civilian staff will be subject to the same provisions within the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill as military personnel when posted overseas to support military operations.

Johnny Mercer: The provisions in Part 1 of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill will only apply to alleged offences committed more than five years ago by current or former members of the UK Armed Forces, including Reserves, and members of British Overseas Territory Forces when operating as part of UK Armed Forces, on operations outside the British Islands.Although Ministry of Defence (MOD) Civil Servants do deploy in support of our Armed Forces during overseas operations, they are not generally deployed on the front line of military operations and are not ordinarily exposed to the same risks and dangers as Service personnel. As a result, the justification for the additional protection provided by the statutory presumption against prosecution to Armed Forces personnel would not be present in relation to Civil Servants.The provisions on civil litigation in Part 2 of the Bill relate to claims brought against the MOD, the Secretary of State for Defence, or any member of Her Majesty's forces in connection with overseas operations. These provisions will apply to all claimants in the same way.

Army: Recruitment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the career destinations were of recruits who enlisted at the Army Foundation College but dropped out before completing Phase Two training in each of the last five years for which data is available.

James Heappey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr Lloyd Russell- Moyle) on 27 February 2020 to Question 19893.



19893 - Army Recruitment
(Word Document, 13.61 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Postal Services: Coronavirus

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the safety of postal workers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities (LAs) are jointly responsible for health and safety regulation of Royal Mail’s activities. Broadly, HSE regulate larger distribution centre and mail delivery activities and LAs regulate Post Offices and delivery offices/sorting centres. HSE has carried out assessment of compliance at individual locations around the country and through liaison with Royal Mail’s Global Director for Compliance and Sustainability. Complaints (referred to as ‘concerns’ by HSE) have been raised about the management of Covid-19 risks at Royal Mail sites, and HSE responds to any concerns notified by Royal Mail’s workforce by assessing Royal Mail’s risk controls against the standards set out in government guidelines addressing social distancing, handling mail, cleaning, and hygiene. As part of HSE’s assessment of compliance, investigation of these concerns have involved a mixture of visits to premises and contact through email or telephone. Where improvements in the measures to protect workers from Covid-19 have been identified, HSE staff have secured compliance with the law by providing advice or writing to Royal Mail to require improvements. HSE has advised LAs to ensure a coordinated approach in applying consistent and proportionate standards to securing compliance against Covid-19 risks in Royal Mail premises

Personal Income: Scotland

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Citizens Basic Income Feasibility Study Steering Group report entitled Assessing the Feasibility of Citizens' Basic Income Pilots in Scotland, if she will meet with Scottish Government officials to discuss that report and its recommendations.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Citizens Basic Income Feasibility Study Steering Group's report entitled Assessing the Feasibility of Citizens' Basic Income Pilots in Scotland, if she will hold discussions with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) HMRC on the potential merits of a universal basic Income pilot in Scotland.

Will Quince: I do not intend to meet with the Scottish Government officials to discuss the report on the feasibility of piloting a Citizens Basic Income (CBI) in Scotland as I do not think a CBI is the right approach for the UK. A CBI does not take any account of people’s needs and circumstances, is not targeted at the poorest in society and would be hugely expensive. This government believes Universal Credit is the right strategy for the UK because it simplifies the benefits system, promotes and incentivises work and provides targeted support to those in most need in a way that is affordable.

Universal Credit

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timescale is for changing universal credit systems and processes to reflect the ruling by the Court of Appeal on 22 June 2020 on the need to take account of the day that a monthly salary is paid.

Will Quince: I refer the Rt.Hon Member to the answer I gave on 1 July 2020 to Question UIN 63208: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-23/63208/

Social Security Benefits

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were claiming (a) job seeker's allowance, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) income support at the time at which the £20 uplift was made to universal credit.

Mims Davies: National Statistics for claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support is published quarterly and the latest available information up to November 2019 can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance for users is available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html The statistics for the number of people claiming these benefits to February 2020 and to May 2020 will be published in August and November 2020 respectively. Statistics for claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance is published monthly by the Office for National Statistics on the NOMIS website, and the latest data to May 2020 can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/ Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made in evaluating the findings of her Department’s pilot on video recording personal independence payment assessments.

Justin Tomlinson: The evaluation of the VR pilot has shown the importance of improving trust and transparency in the assessment process, and DWP remains committed to this. We had begun work to develop an approach to provide consistency for claimants across audio recording of Work Capability Assessments and PIP assessments. However, due to the impact of Covid-19, staff across DWP have been redeployed to support claimants and as a result, this work has been paused.

Social Security Benefits

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department’s policy is on length of time to be allocated to benefit claimants for (a) first claimant commitment interviews, (b) work search reviews and (c) work-focused interviews; and whether those time allocations have changed from 1 July 2020.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 09 July 2020



As we re-introduce claimant commitments we are initially conducting these interviews by phone and testing a 30-minute commitment appointment. We will evaluate this testing and as with all policies we will keep this continually under review. Jobcentre Plus offices continue to remain open to help vulnerable claimants who may not be able to access support through the phone or their journal. The work search reviews will continue with the timings of the existing intervention regime where work coaches have the option to pick from a range of appointment lengths. The Department is continually assessing the service being offered to customers and we continue to keep staff numbers under review as part of our response to the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market. We are rapidly making provisions to return to face-to-face appointments with work coaches to support jobseekers as part of our reopening on jobcentre’s in line with public health guidance across the country.We have already committed to increasing the number of Work Coaches and Case Managers and recruitment is already underway.

Social Security Benefits: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the two-child limit in relation to benefits on BAME families.

Will Quince: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to Question 7121 and 7122 on 28 January 2020 – https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-01-23/7121/

Social Security Benefits: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the benefits cap, by ethnic group.

Mims Davies: The Department cannot precisely quantify the proportion of households by ethnic group that are affected by the benefit cap since recording of ethnicity on benefits administrative data is voluntary and, as such, not sufficiently reliable. However, the 2016 published Impact Assessment of the benefit cap can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-cap

Personal Independence Payment: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to increase personal independent payment in line with the temporary increase in universal credit during the covid-19 outbreak.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide additional financial support to personal independence payment claimants with cancer during the covid-19 outbreak.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government has announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a tax-free extra costs benefit worth up to £151.40 a week, was not subject to the benefits freeze and was most recently uprated by 1.7 per cent from 6 April. PIP can be paid in addition to other financial support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for such as Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, additional amounts and premiums paid within the income-related benefits, Carer’s Allowance or financial help with NHS travel costs.

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the emergency £20 top-up given to universal credit recipients in response to the covid-19 outbreak was not extended to people receiving employment and support allowance and personal independence payment.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Welfare Delivery, my Hon. Friend Will Quince on 29 June 2020 to Question UIN 57361.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of medical assessments for (a) personal independence payment (b) employment and support allowance and (c) universal credit have been (i) paper-based and (ii) telephone-based, since her Department’s suspension of face to face medical assessments on 17 June 2020.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many medical assessments for (a) personal independence payment (b) employment and support allowance and (c) universal credit were (i) paper-based and (ii) face-to-face based, prior to her Department’s suspension of face to face medical assessments on 17 June 2020 in the most recent period for which data is available.

Justin Tomlinson: The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The available information on completed work capability assessments for Employment and Support Allowance, for January to March 2020 and April to June 2020 will be published in September 2020 and December 2020 respectively, on Stat-Xplore here:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ The latest available data on personal independence payment (PIP) clearances made each month from April 2013 – April 2020 split by geographical area (local authority and parliamentary constituency) and by type of clearance (i.e. whether the claim was awarded, disallowed or withdrawn) for both new claims and reassessed claims, can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html

Social Security Benefits

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 62431 on the suspension of benefits conditionality, how her Department will determine what a reasonable claimant commitment is in the new normal.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 62431 on the suspension of benefits conditionality, who will determine whether a claimant commitment is reasonable for the new normal.

Mims Davies: All requirements in the Claimant Commitment will be set in discussions with claimants, who will take ownership of planning how they will meet the requirements and ultimately secure employment. These requirements will be agreed by both the work coach and claimant and will be reasonable taking into account current circumstances.

Universal Credit

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to financially support universal credit claimants during the five-week waiting period for their first payment.

Will Quince: Nobody has to wait five weeks for a payment under Universal Credit. New Claims Advances of up to 100% of potential entitlement can be requested at any point in the first assessment period. Advances are a mechanism to provide support during the first assessment period, allowing claimants to receive 13 payments over 12 months with up to 12 months to repay the advance.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long an employment and support allowance decision is valid for.

Justin Tomlinson: An award of income-related ESA will be an indefinite award but it’s continued receipt is subject to the claimant meeting all the conditions of entitlement, and in particular that they continue to have, or be treated as having, Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA). An award of contributory ESA is for a period of 12 months except where the claimant has LCWRA. Where the claimant continues to have or is treated as having LCWRA the award will be indefinite subject to the claimant meeting all the conditions of entitlement.

Social Security Benefits: Families

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide additional financial support to bereaved families where the principal earner has died as a result of covid-19.

Mims Davies: DWP has a range of financial support available for bereaved families. Bereavement Support Payment provides short-term financial support to working age people whose deceased spouse or civil partner has paid sufficient National Insurance contributions. It is intended to help with the immediate costs of bereavement and can be paid to both widows and widowers. Recipients with children can receive an initial payment of £3,500 and up to 18 monthly payments of £350, whilst those without can receive an initial payment of £2,500 and up to 18 monthly instalments of £100. It is not taxable and is paid on top of any income-related benefits the household receives thus not disadvantaging low income families. It can be paid regardless of whether the surviving spouse or civil partner is in work. The Funeral Expenses Payments scheme provides an important contribution towards the cost of funeral for claimants in receipt of certain income based benefits or tax credits. The Funeral Expenses Payment pays for the necessary costs of a funeral including the burial or cremation fees in full and in April 2020 the additional element that can help with other costs, such as a coffin or the services of a funeral director, was increased from £700 to £1000. For those that need support for ongoing living costs, from 6 April 2020 the Government increased the standard allowance in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week) for one year on top of the planned annual uprating. This additional increase means that claimants may be up to £1040 better off, depending on their circumstances. This applies to all new and existing Universal Credit claimants.

Zero Hours Contracts: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she will take to support workers on zero-hour contracts who are not working as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and are unable to qualify for universal credit because they are considered to have employment.

Will Quince: It is wrong to say that workers on zero-hour contracts, who are not working as a result of the covid-19 outbreak, are unable to qualify for Universal Credit because they are considered to have employment. Universal Credit is payable in and out of work including for those working zero-hour contracts, part-time or temporary jobs. The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and also allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month. This means that if a claimant’s income falls, they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.The Chancellor has also confirmed that, depending on their status, workers on zero hour contracts may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and we would urge people to explore this avenue too.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an estimate of the number of job vacancies that will be created in the event that the WASPI generation of women are permitted to retire immediately and on full pension.

Guy Opperman: No such estimate has been made.

Soical Security Benefits: Coronavirus

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish data on the number of claimants of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) universal credit who have been sanctioned during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: During the outbreak of Covid-19, we took the decision to temporarily suspend the requirement for face-to-face Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in UC, New Style JSA and ESA, old-style JSA and ESA, and IS. They continued to receive benefits as normal and they were not sanctioned for not taking part in appointments with Jobcentres.From the 1st July, we reintroduced the requirement for claimants of UC, NS and Legacy JSA to accept a claimant commitment as part of any new claim and for existing claimants to have an updated claimant commitment in place. Work Coaches will work to ensure that commitments made by claimants are tailored and include easements where appropriate, allowing them to continue to adhere to continuing local and national public health advice in regards to Covid-19 whilst also doing what they can to engage with the labour market. Sanctions statistics on those people claiming Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit are published quarterly and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions Additional breakdowns of the figures can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance for users is available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html The statistics for February to April 2020 will be published in August 2020.

Jobcentre Plus: Glasgow

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentre Plus staff will be recruited in Glasgow in response to the Chancellor’s statement of 8 July 2020; and at which Jobcentres will they be located.

Mims Davies: It is too soon in the recruitment process to be able to identify how many of the new work coaches will be allocated to each city or location. However, Scotland plans to recruit c450 new work coaches between now and the end of October in the first wave of recruitment. Further planned recruitment later in the year will grow these numbers. Recruitment will be targeted based on local demand, plus current available and emerging estate space and Job Centre operating model changes.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether young people not in receipt of universal credit will be eligible to apply to the Kickstart jobs scheme.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether young people in receipt of universal credit will be sanctioned if they do not take up a place on the Kickstart jobs scheme.

Mims Davies: A personalised, tailored claimant commitment is agreed between the work coach and the claimant. They will only set reasonable requirements, based on the claimant’s circumstances and the local/national public health guidelines. Further details about the Kickstart Scheme will be set out in due course.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether young people who are medically shielding from covid-19 will be required to take up a place on the Kickstart jobs scheme.

Mims Davies: Those who have declared a health condition that restricts their ability to work, including those who are shielding and clinically extremely vulnerable, will not be required to be available for work. Further details about the Kickstart Scheme will be set out in due course.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what conditions will be placed on employers participating in the Kickstart jobs scheme to protect the employment conditions of workers aged 25 and over.

Mims Davies: The Kickstart scheme will protect the employment conditions of workers aged 25 and over. Jobs available to young people, aged 16-24, will be new jobs - with the funding conditional on the employer demonstrating these jobs are additional. Further details about the Kickstart Scheme will be set out in due course.

Employment

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 3.2 of the Government's policy paper, A plan for jobs, published on 8 July 2020, if she will publish further details on how the Government plans to deliver a new online, one-to-one job finding support service.

Mims Davies: The Job Finding Support package will be an on-line service providing tailored one-to-one support to help people who have recently lost their job to increase their employability and provide links with suitable employers. We are considering options to provide additional provision for Job Finding Support through a contracted provision. This would be subject to a commercial exercise that will be carried out as a fair and open competition to select a provider who will be working alongside Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches. We will publish more details shortly.

British National (Overseas): Hong Kong

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether individuals and dependants accepted under the proposed bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders from Hong Kong will be eligible for (a) universal credit, (b) pension credit, (c) child benefit, (d) personal independence payment, (e) carer's allowance and (f) other mainstream benefits.

Justin Tomlinson: Further details of the new immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) will be released in due course.

Universal Credit

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any applicant  in receipt of universal credit who was previously in receipt of legacy benefits has successfully reapplied for universal credit.

Will Quince: Yes - claimants who were previously in receipt of legacy benefits who migrated to and were awarded Universal Credit can re-apply for Universal Credit if that award has ended. Universal Credit will then be re-awarded if they meet the conditions of entitlement.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food: Exports

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that the (a) planning and (b) regulatory frameworks support agri-food producers that want to increase the level of their exports.

Victoria Prentis: The food sector is the UK's largest manufacturing industry, and a major contributor to the UK economy. UK food and drink exports play an important part of the success of the sector, and in 2019, UK food and drink exports were worth £23.7 billion - up 4.9% from 2018. The Government highlights the importance of our agriculture and food production in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF requires local planning authorities to take into account all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. They should also consider the needs of the food production industry, and any barriers to investment that can be resolved by planning. The NPPF states that, to promote a strong rural economy, local and neighbourhood plans should promote the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses. Moreover, local planning authorities are asked to encourage the reuse of brownfield land, provided that it is not of high environmental value. This is to recognise the character and beauty of the countryside, and to maintain the strong protections in place for Green Belt and other designated countryside. Further longstanding support for farmers is provided by the rights to carry out various types of agricultural development, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Further demonstrating my department’s collaboration across Government, on 22 June 2020, we announced a ‘bounce back’ plan of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry. These are designed to help support businesses that have been impacted by Coronavirus. These new strategic interventions were the product of joined up engagement between the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Defra. The package offers immediate support to help businesses in the industry grow their trade activity overseas. The measures support producers and manufacturers throughout the food supply chain, from farm to fork, and has been developed with input from trade associations, businesses and DIT’s regional and international networks. They include the announcement of the first Defra Agri-Food Counsellor serving the United Arab Emirates and wider Gulf Region, who will aid in addressing regulatory barriers to export for our agri-food producers.

Tree Planting

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to encourage tree planting throughout the UK to help carbon offsetting; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a subsidy for the provision of saplings to landowners to encourage tree planting.

Rebecca Pow: Trees have a crucial role in the pathway to net zero, so the Government has committed to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025. As forestry is a devolved matter, we will work with the devolved administrations to achieve this. In England, we have launched a consultation on a new England Tree Strategy, setting out proposals to plant more trees for the climate and nature. The Strategy will support delivery of the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund, increasing tree planting in England throughout this parliament. This will build on our existing grants, such as Countryside Stewardship and the Woodland Carbon Fund, which already support landowners to buy, plant and maintain saplings, capturing carbon for years to come.

Animal Products: Trade

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential trade implications for the UK of a ban on the import of hunting trophies while maintaining the export hunting trophies.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he will make an assessment of the number of hunting trophies that may continue to be (a) imported and (b) exported in the event of a ban being limited to only endangered or threatened species.

Victoria Prentis: A consultation and call for evidence on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK were undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. These sought evidence on the number of hunting trophies exported from and imported into the UK, and the impact of any restriction on hunting trophies. We are now reviewing the information received and we will publish a summary of responses in due course on GOV.UK. The outcome of the consultation and the call for evidence will inform our next steps and further work will be undertaken to make relevant assessments dependent on the way forward identified.

Inland Waterways: Coronavirus

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the letter of 23 March 2020 to his Department from British Marine, Broads Authority and Canal & River Trust and subsequent correspondence, what steps he is taking to allocate £20 million covid-19 funding to support waterway businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: The Government has provided wide-ranging financial support across the whole economy, particularly focusing on small and medium-sized businesses. These include several loan schemes, such as: the 100% Government-guaranteed Bounce Back Loan; support for self-employed people; the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund to accommodate small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme; and most recently a £10 million tourism ‘kick-start’ package to help small businesses in our tourist destinations. At this stage there is no specific sector support for the waterways, although we are keeping all decisions under review. Further significant easing of Covid-19 restrictions from 4 July should allow many waterways businesses to reopen to take advantage of coming summer demand.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles.

Rebecca Pow: The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. We are seeking powers to do so in the Environment Bill. Since consulting on its introduction in 2019, the Government has been developing proposals for a DRS using further evidence and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. The Government plans to undertake a second consultation on a DRS in early 2021. In preparation for that consultation, we are currently reviewing the proposed timeline for its introduction.

Fly-tipping and Litter: Fast Food

Tom Tugendhat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings his Department has had with fast food outlets on using vehicle recognition technology to print number plates on take-aways, to make it easier to trace people guilty of littering and fly-tipping.

Rebecca Pow: Defra has not held meetings with fast food outlets specifically on using vehicle recognition technology to print vehicle registration numbers on take-away packaging. We do not think it would be appropriate to require take away vendors to implement such a system due to the additional regulatory burden it would place on these businesses. However, we strongly support voluntary initiatives to reduce littering and we know that some fast-food outlets have piloted similar schemes with some success. The success of any such scheme would be dependent on the willingness of the local authority to follow up with enforcement. Local authorities have the autonomy to decide how to prioritise their enforcement activities. We believe that businesses should try to reduce the amount of litter their products generate. The Litter Strategy sets out how we intend to work with the relevant industries to tackle certain types of particularly problematic litter, including fast-food packaging, smoking-related litter and chewing gum. Our forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging will require producers to cover the full net costs of managing packaging at its end of life, including litter. We plan to undertake a second consultation on EPR for packaging in early 2021. In preparation for that consultation, we are currently reviewing the proposed timeline for its introduction.

Peat Bogs: Conservation

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the environmental effect of restored peatland; and what steps he is taking to ban the sale of peat.

Rebecca Pow: Research has shown that restored peatland achieves a variety of natural capital objectives, including carbon sequestration, water regulation and quality, optimising biodiversity, preserving archaeology, and minimising wildfire hazards. A 2019 BEIS report stated that a near natural bog can remove the equivalent of 3.54 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year, and a near natural fen can remove 5.44 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. We are working towards reducing England’s peatland annual greenhouse gas emissions through restoration, and the Government has committed £640 million through the Nature for Climate Fund part of which will deliver 35,000 hectares of peatland restoration by 2025.The Government also continues to be committed to phasing out the use of peat in horticulture in England. The biggest user of peat is the amateur sector and this is an important part of our policy focus. We signalled to the industry that if we have not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020, then we would look at further measures that could be taken, and we are currently considering what these potential further measures could look like.

Sewage: Rivers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of water companies on ending the practice of overflow raw sewage being pumped into rivers; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: Combined sewer systems which collect waste water and rain water run-off account for the majority of sewerage systems in England. Such systems have a finite capacity and can be temporarily overwhelmed by significant rainfall. Sewer overflows are a feature of these systems and are designed to act as a safety valve to allow the excess waste water to discharge to local waters. This is to avoid waste water flooding streets, homes and other properties, including the sewage treatment plants themselves. To prevent discharges, by the end of the year water companies will have installed monitors on up to 13,000 of the 15,000 sewer overflows in England, with more installations planned afterwards. These monitors will measure how often and for how long overflows operate, helping inform where improvement works are required and providing information to the public about spills. This information has been used to help develop the environmental programme that the water companies will be implementing over the next five years, which includes around £4 billion of investment to reduce pollution from sewage. This environmental programme resulted from discussions between Ministers and water companies. In addition, the Environment Bill will place a statutory requirement on water companies to produce drainage and sewerage management plans, currently being produced on a non-statutory basis. This will further help water companies identify opportunities to better manage sewage discharges and tackle future risks.

Camping Sites: New Forest

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that campsites on Crown Land in the New Forest open in summer 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: Camping in the Forest is an independent operator of campsites in Great Britain. It is majority owned by the Camping and Caravanning Club. The decision not to open campsites in the New Forest in summer 2020 was taken by the Camping in the Forest business. Forestry England is disappointed in this decision and has been in regular dialogue with CITF seeking the opening of the sites.

Hedges and Ditches

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 to strengthen protections for mature hedgerows of less than 30 years of age.

Rebecca Pow: Under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 a hedgerow is deemed ‘important’, and is protected, if it is at least 30 years old. Although there is local variation, research has indicated that, nationally, over 70% of hedgerows in England and Wales are 'important' according to the criteria in the Regulations. The Regulations therefore play a valuable role in providing statutory protection for a large proportion of hedgerows in the countryside, with the risk of removal now extremely low compared with when the Regulations came into effect. We consider that the current level of statutory protection remains appropriate and have no plans to amend the Regulations.

Air Pollution: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2020 to Question 65969 on air pollution: Shipley, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on air quality levels in Shipley of the proposed incinerator at Marley, Keighley.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency (EA) assesses the emissions from new energy from waste (EfW) plants as part of its permitting process. The EA has assessed the impact of emissions from the proposed plant on air quality. The permit assessment process includes a comparison of the maximum predicted concentrations of different pollutants from the plant against the relevant air quality standards, also taking into account the levels of background pollution already present in the area. The EA will not grant a permit for an EfW plant if it could have a significant impact on air quality. The EA is currently carrying out a public consultation on this application and the consultation documents contain the EA’s assessment of the emissions from the plant and the measures proposed to regulate those emissions should the permit be granted.

Industry: Pollution

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to tackle problems associated with noise and dirt emanating from industrial units located near to residential properties.

Rebecca Pow: Owners of industrial, trade and business premises are expected to use the best practicable means available to reduce noise, dust and other potential sources of statutory nuisance emanating from their place of work in the first place. If this is not happening then local authorities have powers through the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to investigate and issue abatement notices to stop the problem from re-occurring if they determine a statutory nuisance exists. The current legislation provides local authorities with the necessary powers to deal with these types of issues and there are no plans for legislative change at this moment.

Countryside: Climate Change

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the CPRE report, Greener, better, faster: countryside solutions to the climate emergency and for a green recovery, published in July 2020.

Rebecca Pow: I had the pleasure of speaking at the launch of the CPRE report, Greener, Better, Faster in which the countryside is at the heart of a green recovery and a source of climate change solutions. While the world is rightly focused on tackling the immediate threat of coronavirus, other great global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss have not gone away. The Government remains committed to being a world leader on tackling the environmental crises we face. As we develop our mitigation plans, we will need to manage trade-offs with our other objectives, for example, balancing land use change for mitigation purposes (e.g. planting trees) with enhancing the natural environment and improving food security. Our Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme is the cornerstone of our new agricultural policy. Founded on the principle of “public money for public goods”, ELM is intended to provide a powerful vehicle for achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, while supporting our rural economy. Farmers and other land managers may enter into agreements to be paid for delivering the following public goods: clean air; clean and plentiful water; thriving plants and wildlife; reduction in and protection from environmental hazards; beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment; mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change are important goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and important objectives of ELM. ELM could support this through providing funding for land management activities that reduce greenhouse gas emission and sequester carbon. Adapting to the inevitable changes in our climate is also vital. While we continue to reduce our contribution to climate change, we are also taking robust action to improve the resilience of our people, economy and environment.

Home Office

Passports: Applications

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to process passport applications and tackle the current backlog.

Kevin Foster: HM Passport Office continues to operate at a small percentage of its usual staffing levels so its people can continue to socially distance while on site in line with public health guidance, yet it has been rapidly acquiring additional office space, and since 23 March has so far added 172 COVID-secure desks.Additionally, HM Passport Office is part way through developing a new system which digitises applications, including the supporting documentation, which will substantially increase the ability of staff to process applications from home. Currently, about 40% of passport applications are being processed through this system and, for those simplest cases where checks upon the application can be fully completed with minimal manual intervention, they are being processed quickly.

Youth Mobility Scheme

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish further guidance for people on Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visas that have been extended to 31 July 2020 who may be unable to leave the UK by that date.

Kevin Foster: There is not yet a date for when further guidance will be published on extensions beyond 31 July, as work is ongoing. The latest information can be found on GOV.UK at:www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residentsThe Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak. We recognise further adjustments are likely to be required to cater for all scenarios, and we are working through these to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.

Visas: British National (Overseas)

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to start accepting applications from BNO passport holders wishing to come to the UK on a five-year visa with the right to work.

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether British Nationals Overseas passport holders from Hong Kong will be able to travel to the UK and make an in-country application for a five year visa enabling them to work in the UK.

Kevin Foster: As announced by the Foreign Secretary on 1st July, a new bespoke immigration route will allow BN(O)s to apply to come to the UK without the current 6 month limit, granting them 5 years limited leave to remain, with the ability to live and work in the UK, after which they may apply for settled status and a year later citizenship. This is a special bespoke set of arrangements, developed for the unique circumstances we face and in light of our historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong.The new route will be implemented in the coming months, with further details to be announced in due course on the simple, streamlined application process which will have no quota on numbers.

Marriage of Convenience

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of suspected sham marriages were received from superintendent registrars in each of the last five years.

Kevin Foster: Reports of suspected sham marriage were reported to the Home Office by Superintendent Registers, on 2,791 occasions in financial year 2015/16, 2,960 in 2016/17, 2,677 in 2017/18, 3,246 in 2018/19 and 2,918 in 2019/20.

Civil Partnerships: Video Conferencing

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to issue revised guidance on the resumption of in-person eligibility meetings for civil partnerships; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of facilitating those meetings through the use of video-conferencing.

Kevin Foster: The local registration service has been advised attesting civil partnership notices can recommence where these can be safely delivered in line with public health and local authority guidelines. In accordance with legislation, meetings to complete the legal preliminaries of giving notice for a civil partnership must be conducted in the presence of the relevant authorised person.

Hate Crime: LGBT People

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of instances of (a) hate crime, (b) serious violence and (c) malicious communications directed at BAME LGBTQ+ youth in the last 12 months.

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of instances of (a) hate crime, (b) serious violence and (c) malicious communications directed at trans youth in the last 12 months.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, including a breakdown of those motivated by hatred of the racial, sexual orientation or transgender background of victims. The latest ‘Hate Crime, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2018-to-2019 However, from the information we hold it is not possible to identify the number of instances of hate crime, serious violence or malicious communications directed specifically at BAME LGBTQ+ youth or trans youth.

Asylum: Housing

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment  she has made of the implications for her policies of the National Audit Office report on Asylum accommodation and support published on 3 July 2020.

Chris Philp: We are considering the National Audit Office report and it’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

Animal Experiments: Inspections

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report entitled, Animals in Science Regulation Annual Report (2018), for what reason there was a reduction in the number of inspections of laboratories from 966 in 2017 to 653 in 2018.

Victoria Atkins: The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) undertakes a risk-based inspection and assessment programme based upon consideration of the factors specified in section 18 (2C) of the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986. These are:• the compliance history of an establishment;• any information relating to potential non-compliance;• the number and species of animals kept; and• the number and type of regulated procedures carried out.The annual number of inspections therefore depends on a range of factors; the most significant of which are the size and complexity of the establishment and the type of work that is carried out there.There is no single reason why there was a reduction in the number of inspections in 2018.

Youth Mobility Scheme: Coronavirus

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to extend the stay of Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa holders as a result of the covid-19 oubreak.

Kevin Foster: The latest information in respect of advice for visa holders can be found on GOV.UK at:www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.This advice is being kept under review.The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak. We recognise further adjustments are likely to be required to cater for all scenarios, and we are working through these to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.

Visas

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2020 to Question 57177 on Visas, whether she plans to introduce a further extension of visas for people that are unable to travel home after 31 July 2020.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak. We recognise further adjustments are likely to be required to cater for all scenarios, and we are working to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.The latest information in respect of advice for visa holders can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.This is being kept under review, including whether further extensions will be necessary. We will confirm the position for those affected shortly.

Interpol

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a Minister in her Department has responsibility for matters in relation to Interpol.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the UK Government's policy is on the (a) appointment of officials and (b) election of officials to Interpol from countries that do not comply with the Red Notice and diffusion system.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of convening a meeting of nations to consider the abuse of Red Notices and diffusions issued by (a) Interpol and (b) member States.

James Brokenshire: Matters in relation to Interpol are the responsibility of the Home Office.The Government strongly supports Interpol in its efforts to improve the safeguards it has in place to protect human rights and preclude interventions or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.The Government views any allegation of misuse of Interpol’s systems very seriously and works closely with Interpol to ensure the legitimacy of the Red Notice system. All Red Notices are subject to review by a multidisciplinary Notices and Diffusions Task Force in Interpol prior to publication to ensure legal compliance and prevent abuse of Interpol systems. The Home Office supports Interpol’s commitment to ensuring the legitimacy of the Red Notice system and in November 2019 seconded a senior lawyer to Interpol to support the work of the Taskforce.

Interpol

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary General of Interpol on the abuse of Red Notices and diffusions.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Minister in her Department has responsibility for issues relating to Interpol.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recommending to Interpol that they include in their strategic framework for 2021-24 further reform of Red Notices and diffusions.

James Brokenshire: As Minister for Security I have overall responsibility for the UK’s engagement and relationship with Interpol.The Government strongly supports Interpol in its efforts to improve the safeguards it has in place to protect human rights and preclude interventions or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.The Government views any allegation of misuse of Interpol’s systems very seriously and will continue to work closely with Interpol to ensure the legitimacy of the Red Notice system. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards and will not hesitate to recommend further reforms to Interpol as necessary.

Forensic Science Regulator

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to support the Forensic Science Regulator’s accreditation timetable.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the Forensic Capability Network has supported accelerated compliance with accreditation requirements for (a) digital forensics and (b) crime scene investigation activities.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress the Forensic Capability Network has made in developing a long-term commercial strategy so that all digital forensic services can be provided by accredited sources.

Kit Malthouse: The Government fully supports the Regulator’s timetables for accreditation. We continue to encourage forensic science providers to adhere to these timetables and will bring forward legislation to give the Regulator statutory enforcement powers at the earliest opportunity. We have supported the creation of the Forensics Capability Network (FCN) as part of an £28.6m investment in forensic capability. The FCN is leading improvement in quality standards and accreditation attainment through a number of workstreams. These include Digital Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation activities and provide practical support to enable the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator Codes to be met. The FCN coordinates and aligns work across policing to improve quality standards, share skills and best practice as well as developing a forensic market strategic plan which will ensure police forces achieve and maintain high quality, sustainable forensic services across all forensic disciplines. All of the digital work packages identified in the plan will have the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator Codes embedded into its activities and deliverables.

Forensic Capability Network

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress the Forensic Capability Network has made in developing a workforce strategy to preserve and develop skills across policing and the private sector.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 5 of the 2019 Implementation plan for the joint review of forensics provision, whether the education programme for the wider CJS stakeholders as defined with the forensic science capability roadmap has been established.

Kit Malthouse: The Forensic Capability Network (FCN) has commenced work to develop and design a Forensic Workforce Strategy. Engagement is under way across academia, policing, forensic providers and the Chartered Society of Forensic Science. Education and training will form an integral part of the Forensic Workforce Strategy, which will also focus on recruitment, development, retention and planning for a national police forensic workforce.

Social Distancing: Fixed Penalties

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under regulation 7 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 for gathering in a group of more than six persons.

Kit Malthouse: The NPCC have made data on compliance publicly available on their website and continue to update this regularly.The latest data, which covers the period 27 March to 22 June, shows a total of 34 FPNs have been issued to individuals who have contravened the requirement to not participate in an outdoor gathering of more than six people.Latest data can be found here - https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/statistical-update-on-number-of-lockdown-fines-given-by-police-1

Driving: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to extend the date by which a person is required to complete their Safe and Considerate Driving course during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kit Malthouse: The management of the Safe and Considerate Driving Course (SCD) is an operational matter for individual police forces and course providers. There are no plans to change this. Due to the current coronavirus situation, this classroom course has been cancelled until Monday 3rd August 2020 and replaced by a Digital Safe and Considerate Course (iSCD).

Immigration Officers: Protective Clothing

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is mandatory for immigration enforcement officers to wear face masks when attending people's homes.

Chris Philp: Under our safe systems of work, guidance issued to ImmigrationEnforcement officers states that for all encounters in any operational setting, when officers encounter or are likely to encounter any unknown person wheremaintaining social distancing of 2 metres is unlikely and physical barriers are not present, officers must apply a disposable facemask.

Police: Forensic Capability Network

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how may police forces have voluntarily participated in the Forensic Capability Network.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has established a specialist scientific team within the Forensics Capability Network.

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a Chief Scientist role has been established within the Forensics Capability Network.

Kit Malthouse: The Forensic Capability Network (FCN) is operated by policing on behalf of all 43 police forces in England and Wales. It aims to increase efficiency, quality and to manage demand. It has enabled all police forces to work with it, including through national incidents such as the response to Covid-19, where a national contingency plan has been enacted and national co-ordination of the supplier market is required. The FCN has established a specialist scientific team, to identify and exploit future scientific opportunities. More information can be found here: https://www.fcn.police.uk/pillars/fcn-science The ‘Office of the Chief Scientist’ is being established by the FCN. Its role is set out in the FCN Prospectus which can be read here: https://www.fcn.police.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/FCN%20Prospectus_0.pdf

Forensic
science

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the terms of reference are for the Forensics Policy Steering Group.

Kit Malthouse: The Forensics Policy Steering Group was dissolved in 2019 and replaced by the Criminal Justice Board Forensics Sub-Group. The Sub-Group operates on behalf of the Criminal Justice Board to provide high-level leadership and oversight of forensic science in the Criminal Justice System (CJS).The Sub-Group is jointly chaired by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, bringing together stakeholders from across policing and the CJS to ensure that forensic science capability and delivery is effective for all relevant parties.

Innovation and Research

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice on establishing an effective co-ordination and oversight mechanism to serve the research and development spectrum in the UK.

Kit Malthouse: My officials have been working closely with colleagues across Government and the forensic science sector to improve co-ordination and oversight of Research and Development across the Criminal Justice system. A Science for the Justice System Advisory Group has been established, working with a UKRI project to devise options for future mechanisms to effectively and efficiently coordinate forensic science in the UK. Initial consultation with key stakeholders has identified common areas of research need and the group will continue to work with UKRI and the research community to identify how research can better meet different forms of user need.

Asylum: Contracts

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the July 2020 Refugee Action report entitled Wake Up Call and its finding that the transition from one set of Government asylum contracts to another in 2019 caused delays in people accessing asylum advice and resulted in inadequate support for people with newly granted refugee status.

Chris Philp: We are currently reviewing this report and will respond to the authors in due course, however we reject the suggestion that we provide inadequate support to asylum seekers.

Asylum: Hong Kong

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Hong Kong have sought asylum in the UK from 21 May 2020 to 8 July 2020; and how many of those applications for asylum have been granted.

Chris Philp: The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-releaseData on the number of asylum applications and the initial decision on such applications are published in tables Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Data covering April to June 2020 will be published as part of the August release of Immigration Statistics.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?keywords=immigration&content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=relevance

Immigration: Welsh Language

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the immigration rules to ensure that Welsh language skills are awarded equal points as English.

Kevin Foster: We recognise the rich and unique contribution the Welsh Language makes to our United Kingdom as a whole.We are assessing the potential merits of amending the Immigration Rules to include recognition of Welsh Language Skills in our immigration system and will provide our conclusion in due course.

Interpol

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she had has with her (a) US, (b) Canadian, (c) New Zealand, (d) EU, Japanese and (e) South Korean counterparts on priorities for Interpol’s strategic framework for 2021-24.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with his counterparts in the (a) the US Administration (b) Canada Government, (c) New Zealand Government, (d) Australia Government, (e) EU member states, (f) Japan Government and (g) South Korea Government on a successor to the President of Interpol.

James Brokenshire: The Interpol Strategic Framework 2021-24 is currently under development by Interpol, and following its completion it will be shared with Interpol’s 194 members. Therefore, as yet no discussions have been had with the members identified within the question but engagement with members will be undertaken in the future. Due diligence is undertaken by the UK Government into individuals seeking election to the Interpol Presidency and Home Office officials have discussed with officials in other countries prospective candidates for the role.

Interpol: Finance

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for the allocation of statutory funding to Interpol.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for the allocation of voluntary funding to Interpol.

James Brokenshire: The criteria for the allocation of statutory funding to Interpol are set out in the Financial Regulations of Interpol and Resolution of the General Assembly GA-2018-87-RES-14. The criteria is based on a scale that is set by the United Nations. Additional financial contributions are covered by Articles 38-40 of the Interpol Constitution as well as Article 51 of the General Regulations.

Emergency Services Network: Strathconon

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her timescale is for the Emergency Services Network and Extended Area Service mast in Strathconon becoming operational.

Kit Malthouse: The mast is part of the UK's Emergency Services Network (ESN), which is designed to give our emergency services reliable communications coverage in more rural areas across the whole of the country. We are focussing on completing the infrastructures as soon as possible, but generally the sites will only be activated closer to the time when they are needed, as there are significant operational costs when the sites are live. The ESN Programme is currently looking at cases where there may be a particular case for early activation due to community need, as well as potential funding sources to enable this. In this instance the Programme is looking to activate this mast ahead of ESN, timescales are still to be determined.

Osime Brown

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will revoke the deportation order of Osime Brown in light of Mr Brown's learning disabilities, mental ill health and lack of family network in Jamaica.

Chris Philp: Foreign national offenders should be in no doubt of our determination to remove them. Since 2010 we have removed more than 53,000 FNOs.It would be inappropriate to comment on this case while legal proceedings are ongoing

Refugees: Families

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to amend the Refugee Family Reunion rules to allow more families to safely reunite in the UK.

Chris Philp: The Government already provides a safe and legal route to bring families together through its family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country.Our family reunion policy has reunited many refugees with their family members; over 29,000 family reunion visas have been granted over the past five years, with more than half issued to children. Expanding the rules could lead to more people coming to the UK who do not themselves need protection, reducing our capacity to assist the most vulnerable.

Asylum: Finance

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for continuing to support people in the asylum system during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Any asylum seeker who would otherwise be destitute can obtain support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 from the time they arrive in the UK, until their claim is fully determined, and they have exhausted their appeal rights.During the covid 19 outbreak we suspended cessations to cases where the asylum claim had been determined. This is currently being reviewed. A comprehensive cessation plan, on how to recommence support cessations is being worked through with discussions with Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders, which included members of the voluntary and community sector.We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.

British National (Overseas): Hong Kong: S

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether those individuals accepted under the proposed bespoke immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders from Hong Kong will be required to pay the UK immigration healthcare surcharge.

Kevin Foster: It is right for those coming into the UK to contribute to the NHS for the brilliant healthcare they receive. Income from the surcharge goes directly into supporting NHS services.Further details of the new immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) will be released in due course.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Paul Bristow: What plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a new offence of intentional trespass to help prevent unlawful traveller encampments.

Kit Malthouse: Although the majority of travellers obey the law, we recognise that unauthorised encampments can cause significant distress.We consulted on measures to enable the police to tackle unauthorised encampments more effectively and will publish a response to the consultation in due course.

Offenders: Coronavirus

James Grundy: What steps her Department is taking to remove foreign national offenders from the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Philp: Foreign national offenders who abuse our hospitality should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them.We continue to remove where there are available routes and by charter flight operations.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Jack Brereton: What steps her Department is taking to stop migrants crossing the English Channel illegally.

Chris Philp: We have a duty both to protect our borders and prevent loss of life. That’s why we are doing everything we can to stop these dangerous Channel crossings and bring to justice the criminals behind this evil trade.No one should be making these dangerous and illegally-facilitated crossings. France is a safe country with a well-run asylum system.The National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement, Border Force and UK Police are working closely with French authorities to stop ruthless criminals who facilitate the crossings, putting lives at risk. A UK-France Coordination and Information Centre was opened in Calais in November 2018 to co-ordinate law enforcement activity.

Immigration Controls: Scotland

Kenny MacAskill: What recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed points-based immigration system on the economy of Scotland.

Kevin Foster: This Government will introduce a points-based immigration system that works in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.Our future system is designed to drive up wages and productivity across the UK and allow us to bring in the most talented while responding to public concerns about immigration.

Scotland Office

Asylum: Temporary Accommodation

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has made to Cabinet colleagues in relation to people in Scotland who are in temporary accommodation provided by Mears Group and funded by the Home Office.

Iain Stewart: The Secretary of State for Scotland is in contact with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary on a range of immigration issues of importance to Scotland. Just like everyone else in the country, asylum seekers have been asked to stay in their accommodation to help in the fight against Coronavirus, which has increased the amount of accommodation needed to do so safely. The use of contingency accommodation is an exceptional response to exceptional circumstances. Since the start of the current pandemic, the Home Office has been in daily contact with service providers to ensure that the Government continues to meet its statutory obligation to house destitute asylum seekers and to ensure that all contracted support services are delivered and service users are housed safely. As we emerge from lockdown measures, work has begun in Glasgow to move people out of hotels back into longer term accommodation.

Cabinet Office

Rural Areas: Ministerial Responsibility

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government Minister has responsibility for rural social isolation.

Chloe Smith: The UK Government’s work on loneliness is coordinated by DCMS and led by Baroness Barron. Lord Gardiner, as Rural Affairs Minister, works closely with her to make sure the needs of those living in isolated rural communities are properly considered and taken into account.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will target (a) social distancing guidance and (b) other key messages regarding the covid-19 outbreak to groups most likely to breach Government guidance.

Julia Lopez: The Government has developed a national cross-government campaign to increase awareness of all COVID-related guidance and to provide information and reassurance to the public. Insight has been used to ensure that the main public information campaign reaches as many priority audiences as possible.

Average Earnings: Ethnic Groups

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average gross hourly pay was of people whose ethnicity was (a) white, (b) mixed, (c) Indian, (d) Pakistani/Bangladeshi and (e) Black in each year since 1991.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 117.21 KB)

Employment: Ethnic Groups

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the employment rate was of (a) women and (b) men whose ethnicity was (i) white, (ii) mixed, (iii) Indian, (iv) Pakistani/Bangladeshi and (v) Black in each year since 1991.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA's response - 70491
(PDF Document, 109.98 KB)




UKSA's supporting documents - 70491
(Excel SpreadSheet, 61.5 KB)

Owner Occupation and Rented Housing: Ethnic Groups

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of (a) White British, (b) Indian, (c) Pakistani, (d) Bangladeshi, (e) Black African and (f) Black Caribbean households were (i) owner occupiers, (ii) social renters and (iii) private renters in each year since 1991.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. A copy of the UKSA response will be placed in the Library of the House.

English Language: Ethnic Groups

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of (a) women and (b) men who were (i) White British, (ii) Indian, (iii) Bangladeshi, (iv) Pakistani, (v) Black African and (vi) Black Caribbean had poor English proficiency in (A) 1991, (B) 2001 and (C) 2011.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. A copy of the UKSA response will be placed in the Library of the House.

Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's timetable is for the formation of the Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the membership of the Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights will be determined.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the planned scope is of the Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQs 1274-1279 on 13 January 2020.

Veterans: Civil Service

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress his Department has made on guaranteeing interviews for veterans applying to the civil service; and what the timeframe is for the roll-out of the pilot scheme for that policy.

Johnny Mercer: As part of the Government’s commitment to making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans any veteran applying for a Civil Service post will be interviewed, as long as they meet the minimum criteria for the role. Veterans can already apply to Civil Service roles and the addition of this scheme will further open up a broad range of exciting opportunities in the Civil Service, alongside existing schemes such as the Going Forward Into Employment Programme, and make it easier for the Civil Service to benefit from the talents and skills that veterans have to offer. We are committed to rolling out the pilot for this new scheme as soon as we can. Further details will be announced in the usual way.

Cabinet Office: Data Protection

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: All Information Commissioner Office (ICO) recordable breaches are recorded by the department and published in the Cabinet Office annual report. In the last five years, a total of 7 breaches have been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office. There have been 11 reportable incidents in the last 10 years.2019/20 there were two breaches reported to the ICO2018/19 there were two breaches reported to the ICO2017/18 there were three breaches reported to the ICO2016/17 there were no breaches reported to the ICO2015/16 there were no breaches reported to the ICO2014/15 there was one breach reported to the ICO2013/14 there were two breaches reported to the ICO2012/13 there was one breach reported to the ICO2011/12 there was one breach reported to the ICO2010/11 there were no breaches reported to the ICONone of the reported breaches resulted in follow-up ICO action.

Coronavirus: Wales

Simon Baynes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to award honours to individuals and organisations that have helped to tackle the covid-19 outbreak in Wales.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Honourable member to the answer given to PQ 68430 on 7 July 2020.

Public Appointments

Naz Shah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) processes and (b) procedures are in place to elect members to commissions established by the Government.

Chloe Smith: As has been the case under successive administrations, Government establishes a range of statutory and non-statutory commissions, with different functions. Where a commission’s work is long term it may be listed on the public appointments Order in Council and appointments will be made by ministers in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. If the work of a commission is short-term, members may be appointed in line with the long standing practice that ministers can directly appoint individuals to undertake short-term pieces of work.

Treasury

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contingency plans his Department have made to support the economy in the event that a second wave of covid-19 requires a reintroduction of lockdown restrictions.

John Glen: In March 2020 the Government put in place strict social distancing measures to slow the spread of the Coronavirus so that the NHS would not be overwhelmed. Alongside this, the Government introduced an unprecedented package of support for businesses and individuals, including the CJRS which has helped 1.1 million employers across the UK furlough 9.4 million jobs. The Government has set out a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, so that we do not risk a second peak of the virus. The Government has produced COVID-19 secure practical guidelines to support businesses to reopen and for workers to feel confident, safe and empowered to return to work. Public Health England, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and NHS Test and Trace constantly monitor levels of infection across the country, and will work with local authorities to implement additional measures if needed. The Chancellor has announced further support for those sectors hardest hit, with a £1.57 billion package for the arts, and a cut in VAT to 5% for accommodation, attractions and the hospitality sector, and on 8th July set out a package of measures to support jobs across the UK, including a Job Retention Bonus to help firms keep furloughed workers and a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.

Finance: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people in financial difficulty who are not eligible for any of the Government's support schemes during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government is putting in place to help the 3 million people who are not entitled to Government covid-19 support.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase eligibility for (a) people and (b) business not eligible for the Government's financial support measures during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided a comprehensive economic response that is one of the most generous of its kind in the world, taking unprecedented steps to support families, businesses and the most vulnerable. As well as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), this package includes Government-backed loans and grants to businesses, tax deferrals, rental support and mortgage and consumer credit holidays. This package also includes extra funding for the welfare safety net to help those through this outbreak who are unable to access other forms of support. The temporary welfare measures include increases to Universal Credit and Local Housing Allowance, a relaxation of the Universal Credit minimum income floor, and making Statutory Sick Pay easier to access. Now, the Government’s new Plan for Jobs will support, protect and create jobs. This plan will make available up to £30 billion to help kickstart the nation’s economic recovery ahead of a fuller package of medium-term recovery measures in the forthcoming Autumn Budget and Spending Review.

Public Sector: Coronavirus

Damien Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support his Department has allocated to (a) NHS and (b) public sector staff who have been asked to shield during the covid-19 outbreak.

Steve Barclay: Where individuals have been advised to shield, guidance available on gov.uk should be followed wherever possible. Employers are expected to support staff to safely shield. Those working for fully funded public sector organisations, including those that need to shield, should be paid as normal out of existing budgets.Arrangements should have been made to facilitate working from home wherever possible, and reprioritisation and redeployment should be considered to minimise issues with service delivery. In public sector organisations not fully funded by public grants, where working from home has not been possible, shielding staff were eligible for furlough, and the scheme continues to support them. In all instances, CJRS claims should remain proportionate to the impact on revenue disruption, and those that need to shield should be furloughed before other staff. It should be noted that from 1 July, employees can only be furloughed if they have completed the minimum 3-week furlough period between 1 March and 30 June. Similarly, guidance issued by NHS England states that staff will continue to receive full pay for any period in which they are required to self-isolate as a result of public health advice. The Chancellor has been clear that the NHS will receive as much funding as needed to manage the Covid-19 outbreak, with £31.9 billion of support now approved for health and care services.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of applying a net-zero test to proposed (a) spending and (b) taxation in support of the Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government continues to work towards achieving the long-term changes in our economy that are necessary to achieve net zero by 2050. The Treasury is conducting a review into how the transition over the next 30 years will be funded and where the costs will fall. This will include principles to guide decision-making. In parallel, we are committed to applying an ambitious carbon price from 1 January 2021 and are legislating to establish a UK Emissions Trading System as well as a Carbon Emissions Tax. HM Treasury’s world-leading Green Book guidance on appraisal and evaluation provides detailed advice for valuing the costs and benefits of interventions, including climate change mitigation and other environmental impacts.

Child Benefit

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the value of child benefit.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment his Department has carried out on the potential merits for BAME women of increasing child benefit.

Steve Barclay: Child Benefit rates were raised in line with inflation in April 2020.This was alongside the government’s significant package of welfare support in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which is estimated by the to be worth £8bn this year. This includes: an up-to £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element; a relaxation of earnings rules for self-employed Universal Credit claimants; and an increase in the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants to the 30th percentile of market rents.

Public Expenditure

Dawn Butler: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) policies and (b) other work started by the previous Administration between 2016 and 2019 which were cancelled by the Government when it was formed in December 2019.

Steve Barclay: The Government is delivering the Manifesto on which it was elected in December 2019. This set out the costs of the government’s policy agenda, including the implementation of the 2019 Spending Round. Subsequently, the government published Spring Budget 2020 and its Plan For Jobs which set out the costs of subsequent policy announcements. We will set out plans for future years at a Budget and Spending Review in the Autumn.

Companies: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies incorporated outside the UK have received assistance through the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, (b) ability to defer VAT, (c) Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Scheme and (d) Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has published aggregate application and approval figures on the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) since 10 May but does not hold specific information relating to individual companies who have accessed these schemes. HMRC publishes weekly management information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and monthly management information on VAT deferrals. On 11 June HMRC published the Official Statistics for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which included a breakdown of recipients by sector, but not individual organisations or companies. The Bank of England is responsible for publishing data on the Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), including a list of organisations or companies who have made applications. The Government does not collect data on how many companies incorporated outside of the UK have received assistance through CJRS, VAT deferral, CLBILS or CCFF. However, as laid out in the guarantee agreement, all firms borrowing through CLBILS must be engaged in trading activity in the UK at the Initial Drawdown Date and the finance facility must be used to support their trading activity in the UK. Compensation from the CJRS goes directly to the pockets of UK based workers and any VAT deferred must be repaid to HMRC by the end of the financial year. All firms applying to the CCFF must meet a test applied by the Bank of England to show that they make a material contribution to the UK economy, including when incorporated overseas. Since 4 June the Bank of England have been publishing the names of companies with commercial paper currently outstanding through the CCFF. This is a unique level of transparency, equivalent schemes in the Eurozone and United States do not publish the names of scheme users. Government support is aimed at businesses in genuine need. Our current measures are well-targeted at such businesses, bearing in mind the need to act very quickly to deliver this unprecedented package. We expect everyone to act responsibly and in the spirit of the package, and only claim and use support as intended.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HMRC has issued to businesses on placing employees on temporary contracts for services on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: Guidance has been issued for employers with employees on temporary contracts and was most recently updated on 1 July 2020. The guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. Further guidance has been provided for employers to calculate an employee’s usual hours, including those who are paid by reference to services performed. This can be found under the ‘work out your employee’s usual hours if they are paid per task or piece of work done’ section of the following guidance which was most recently updated on 1 July 2020: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/steps-to-take-before-calculating-your-claim-using-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.

Coronavirus: Screening

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason a covid-19 test provided by an employer to an employee as part of their work will be treated by HMRC as a benefit in kind and will therefore be taxable; and whether that treatment will apply to tests provided by employers in Wales.

Jesse Norman: The Government is introducing an income tax exemption and National Insurance (NICs) disregard to ensure that coronavirus antigen testing provided by an employer to employees outside the Government’s national testing scheme will not attract tax and NICs liabilities. The new exemption will apply across the United Kingdom for the current tax year 2020-21.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Charities

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that charities that provide residential trips for school children are eligible for extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme provided to the tourism and leisure sectors.

Jesse Norman: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until October and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further extensions or changes to the scheme, including to the tourism and leisure sectors. It would be challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and it may not be the case that this is the most effective or sensible way to provide longer term support for those sectors most affected by coronavirus.

UK Trade With EU: Export Controls

Ian Blackford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her policy is on tariff payments for non-vat registered businesses that export directly to customers in the EU at the end of the transition period.

Jesse Norman: Following the end of the transition period, there will be no tariffs on the export of goods from the UK to the EU, or any other country. This is irrespective of whether the exporter is VAT registered or not.

Unemployment: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to tackle potential increases in unemployment once the Government’s furlough scheme ends.

Jesse Norman: The Government has a broad set of policies in place to support businesses and individuals during COVID-19. The Government has designed the next stage of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) by balancing the need to protect jobs against the need to restart the economy as the Covid-19 backdrop improves. The CJRS scheme must be temporary and the Government must ensure people can get back to work when it is safe to do so and get the UK economy up and running again. The Government has recently announced its Plan for Jobs. In it, in order to protect workers and encourage employers to minimise redundancies, the Government introduced a Jobs Retention Bonus. This will ensure that UK employers will receive a one-off bonus of £1,000 for each furloughed employee who is still employed as of 31 January 2021. The Government has also announced unprecedented support to help unemployed people in Great Britain find a job. The Government is providing £1.2bn to significantly expand and enhance work search support, including doubling the number of work coaches, additional investment into the Flexible Support Fund to provide direct support at a local level, and using externally contracted provision to expand support even further. Recognising that young people are particularly at risk, the Government has also launched a new £2bn Kickstart Scheme, creating hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across Great Britain, as well as a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Worksearch group, through its new youth offer. In England, the Government will also support people to build the skills they need to get into work, including by providing funding to triple the number of traineeships and sector-based work academy placements, new payments to employers to hire apprentices, and new funding to expand the National Career Service. In addition to what is outlined in the Plan for Jobs, those who struggle to find work for a longer period will also benefit from a new, large-scale employment support offer. Further details will be announced shortly.

Self-employed: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will create a dedicated covid-19 hardship fund for sole traders and other self-employed people ineligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support people who are newly self-employed who started a business after April 2019 and do not qualify for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to support limited company directors who take a large part of their income in dividends and do not qualify for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Jesse Norman: Self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, are eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) if they have submitted their Income Tax Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19, continued to trade, and have been adversely affected by COVID-19. To qualify, their self-employed trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to their non-trading income.Individuals who are not eligible for the SEISS may benefit from other elements of the unprecedented financial support provided by the Government. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants. On 8 July, the Government introduced the new Plan for Jobs which will make available up to £30 billion to assist in creating, supporting and protecting jobs.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on local government finances.

Steve Barclay: I refer the Honorable Member to the answer I gave on 8th July: The Government has provided over £3.7bn in additional grant funding to Councils in England to help them respond to pressures across all their services as a result of Covid-19. The Government has also announced a major new scheme to reimburse councils for their income losses during the pandemic, and is allowing councils to spread their tax deficits over three years rather than the usual one. These measures represent a comprehensive package of support for councils as they respond to Covid-19.

Life Insurance: Mental Illness

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Prudential Regulatory Authority on the provision of life insurance for people with diagnosed mental health conditions.

John Glen: The Government is determined that all insurers should treat customers fairly. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is responsible for the prudential regulation (the amount of capital that must be held) of a number of financial service providers, including insurers, while the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms in relation to their business. The FCA requires firms dealing with all customers, including those with mental health issues and other vulnerabilities, to act honestly, fairly and professionally in accordance with their customers' best interests; to pay due regard to the interests of their customers and treat them fairly; and communicate information to them in a way which is clear, fair and not misleading. Where the FCA becomes aware that firms are treating customers, including customers with vulnerabilities such as mental health issues, unfairly, they will consider this on a case-by-case basis and use the full range of regulatory and supervisory powers to put things right. The FCA has placed access and vulnerability at the core of its Mission and Business Plan. In July 2019, the FCA launched a consultation on guidance for firms on the treatment of vulnerable consumers, including those with mental health conditions. The FCA planned to issue a further consultation on the Guidance in early 2020, but this was postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. It will now be published later this year.

International Monetary Fund: Lebanon

John Howell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2020 to Question 68305 on Loans: Lebanon, what risks of misuse the International Monetary Fund has identified for loan packages to Lebanon; and what plans he has for conditions on lending relating to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

John Glen: The IMF must establish adequate safeguards for use of its resources, consulting and updating the Board of Directors, as its policy develops. Safeguards can include for example: strengthening auditing or procurement rules, and wider Central Bank reform. The UK uses its seat on the IMF Board, in conjunction with other board members, to help ensure that programme conditions are consistent with the IMF’s mandate. There have not been formal discussions at the IMF board on Lebanon, though the IMF’s spokesman has said recently that “there is significant scope to strengthen the transparency and accountability of economic policies, and public sector entities.”

Personal Savings

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the average level of savings accumulated by households in the UK.

John Glen: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish data on the ratio of household saving to total available household resources. The latest data indicate that the household saving ratio was 8.6% in Q1 2020, compared to 6.6% in Q4 2019. The Bank of England publish monthly data on changes in households’ deposits. Households’ deposits increased by £25 billion in May following large increases in March and April. This compares with an average monthly increase of £5 billion in the six months to February.

Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the Eat Out to Help Out period in areas that experience a local lock-down for all or part of August 2020.

Jesse Norman: As announced at the Summer Economic Update, this scheme will run for the month of August and is designed to encourage people to return to eating out, while also supporting the recovery of the hospitality sector. However, the Government acknowledges the potential for any future local lockdowns to affect how consumers and businesses benefit from the scheme, and so will be keeping this under careful review.

Financial Services

Bob Blackman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2020 to Question 64077, what assessment he has made of the importance of the exchange rate margin as calculated from the European Central Bank (ECB) rate in providing clarity for people sending bank transfers abroad; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require that margin to be calculated from a live publicly available interbank rate rather than the ECB rate to ensure that transparency provisions will continue to work effectively in UK law after the end of the transition period.

John Glen: Further to my response of 3 July 2020 to Question 64077, before the end of the Transition Period, the Government will bring forward secondary legislation under the EU Withdrawal Act 2018 to ensure that the provisions of the Cross Border Payments Regulation which require transparency of currency conversion fees and charges for credit transfers, continue to work effectively in UK law after the end of the Transition Period.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Small Businesses

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to undertake an independent quality assurance review of RBS Global Restructuring Group's treatment of SMEs.

John Glen: The fact that there were areas of widespread inappropriate treatment of firms by RBS GRG is clearly unacceptable. RBS rightly apologised for these mistakes, and set up a scheme to compensate victims. This scheme has, to date, paid out [£150] million to complainants. This complaints process, overseen by Sir William Blackburne, adds a robust, transparent and independent step to the complaints process, should SME customers who were in GRG wish to complain about their treatment or challenge the bank’s decision on a previous complaint. Therefore the Government will not establish an independent quality assurance review.

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) financial and (b) economic modelling his Department is undertaking to assess the effect of the Government's guidance on (a) travelling, (b) social distancing and (c) social gatherings during the covid-19 outbreak on the UK economy; and if he will make statement.

John Glen: The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the UK economy and the Government has taken swift action to deliver unprecedented rescue packages. While the actions we have taken have come at significant fiscal costs, the costs of inaction would have been far higher. Treasury officials undertake a wide range of internal analysis to support policy development and advice to ministers. However, the Treasury does not publish forecasts of the economy or the public finances. Indeed, the Office for Budget Responsibility are the UK’s official forecasters. We continue to monitor the impact of the policies to tackle Covid-19 as circumstances develop. The Chancellor will set out further details on his plans for sustainable and balanced fiscal policy at the next Budget, as the economic and fiscal outlook becomes clearer.

Personal Income: Coronavirus

Sarah Owen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to charts 1a and 1b of his Department's publication, Impact of Covid-19 on working household incomes: distributional analysis as of May 2020, published on 8 July 2020, if he will publish tables containing the data that is represented in those charts.

Jesse Norman: The requested data is set out in Tables 1.A and 1.B below. Table 1.A: Percentage change in household income, by working household net income decile, as of May 2020Equivalised Net Income DecileEarnings and job lossesHypothetical earnings losses for furloughed employees in the absence of the CJRSExisting tax and welfare stabilisersCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)COVID-19 additional welfare supportOverall % change in working household net incomes from February 2020Bottom Decile-11.4%-17.5%2.7%14.0%9.6%6.1%3.4%2-10.7%-18.2%3.5%14.5%6.1%3.3%-1.5%3-8.6%-21.6%2.3%16.9%5.9%1.6%-3.4%4-8.7%-22.5%2.6%17.4%4.8%0.9%-5.5%5-9.3%-20.2%2.8%15.4%4.3%0.4%-6.6%6-9.6%-21.1%2.8%16.0%4.6%0.2%-7.1%7-10.3%-20.5%3.4%15.3%4.6%0.2%-7.3%8-11.6%-20.3%4.2%14.7%3.9%0.1%-9.0%9-11.4%-15.8%4.4%10.6%3.8%0.0%-8.4%Top Decile-18.2%-13.9%9.9%6.7%1.4%0.0%-14.1%All working households-12.0%-18.4%4.7%13.0%4.1%0.7%-7.9% Table 1.B: Change in household income, £ per week, by working household net income decile, as of May 2020 Equivalised Net Income DecileEarnings and job lossesHypothetical earnings losses for furloughed employees in the absence of the CJRSExisting tax and welfare stabilisersCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)COVID-19 additional welfare supportOverall change in working household net incomes from February 2020Bottom Decile-£42-£64£10£51£35£22£122-£52-£88£17£70£29£16-£73-£48-£121£13£95£33£9-£194-£55-£142£16£110£30£6-£355-£67-£144£20£111£31£3-£476-£77-£169£23£128£37£1-£577-£95-£189£32£142£42£2-£688-£120-£210£43£152£40£1-£939-£135-£186£52£125£44£0-£99Top Decile-£330-£251£178£122£25£1-£255All working households-£102-£156£40£111£35£6-£67

Job Creation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs that will be created as the result of announcements made in the summer economic statement on 8 July 2020.

John Glen: The Plan for Jobs makes available up to £30 billion to support the recovery, and support jobs. The £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across Britain. The Government has said there will be no cap on the number of places available, and urges employers to hire as many Kickstarters as possible. Other elements of the Plan will help to support jobs, too. The Government expects the Green Homes Grant, together with the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation, to support around 140,000 green jobs, and cutting VAT to 5% on eligible services supplied by the tourism and hospitality sectors will help protect 2.4 million jobs. The Government is also supporting firms who keep their furloughed workers on, with a £1,000 bonus for each furloughed employee who is still employed by the end of January next year. And the Government is supporting all unemployed people to find jobs by providing £1.2 billion to significantly enhance and expand work search support this year in Great Britain, including to double the number of work coaches to 27,000.

Stamp Duties

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's policy paper of 8 July 2020 entitled, A Plan for Jobs 2020 and the estimated £3.8 billion cost of the temporary reduction in Stamp Duty Land Tax set out in Table 1: Plan for Jobs policy decisions of that policy paper, what estimate he has made of the proportion of that sum that will benefit (a) first-time buyers, (b) existing owner-occupiers moving home, (c) buy-to-let investors, (d) people buying second homes and (e) overseas buyers.

Jesse Norman: This information is not readily available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Escape Rooms: Coronavirus

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has provided (a) support and (b) guidance to escape room businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government’s economic support measures have helped a wide range of visitor attractions through this crisis. Escape room businesses can continue to access schemes such as the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, the Bounce Back Loans scheme. Certain retail, leisure and hospitality businesses are also eligible for business rates relief and grants. Indoor attractions will be permitted to reopen from 4 July, so long as they can do so in line with COVID-19 Secure guidelines for the Visitor Economy. People should only visit indoor attractions within their household group (or support bubble) or with one other household (or support bubble). We have worked very closely with the tourism sector to develop Covid-secure guidance which will help visitor economy businesses reopen safely.

Football Association Premier League

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his statement at the daily press conference on 17 June, that all but five countries worldwide broadcast the restart of the Premier League on 17 June 2020, which five countries did not air the restart of the Premier League.

Nigel Huddleston: We understand from the Premier League that broadcast rights to their matches have been sold around the world, with only five countries not covered as of 17 June - Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, the Philippines and Turkmenistan.

Inland Waterways: Coronavirus

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support (a) heritage and (b) tourism on the inland waterways during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: We recognise that waterways businesses have been severely impacted by the current crisis. My Department will continue to work closely with the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to assess how we can most effectively support heritage and tourism on inland waterways following COVID-19. Waterways businesses and workers can access the Government’s comprehensive economic support package, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme. The £10 million Kick-starting Tourism Package will give small businesses in tourist destinations grants of up to £5,000 to help them adapt their businesses following COVID-19. Through the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and its working groups, we have developed COVID-secure guidance which will help heritage and tourism businesses reopen safely. VisitBritain have also introduced an industry standard quality mark that tourism businesses - including those associated with waterways - can acquire if they are compliant with COVID-secure guidance. The £45m Discover England Fund encourages visitors to enjoy the West Midlands’ diverse waterways, including the Trent & Mersey Canal in Lichfield.

Gambling Act 2005

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to bring forward proposals on reform of the Gambling Act 2005.

Nigel Huddleston: The government committed in its manifesto to review the Gambling Act 2005 to make sure it is fit for the digital age. A timeline for the review and its scope will be announced in due course.

Music: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria he is using to assess when it will be safe to allow choirs to recommence rehearsing and performing.

Caroline Dinenage: We are committed to getting the performing arts sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. It is a priority of my department to work with the arts and cultural sectors to address the challenges of reopening. The Secretary of State recently revealed a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running as soon as possible:Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences)Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposesStage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience and pilots for indoor performances with a limited socially-distanced audienceStage Four - Performances allowed indoors and outdoors (but with a limited socially-distanced audience indoors)Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors) On 9 July we published guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations, venue operators and participants which will help people understand how they can work and take part in the performing arts safely, and keep their audiences safe. This guidance applies to training, rehearsal and pre-production activities, and performances which take place with or without a live audience, wherever these activities occur. DCMS and PHE are supporting a study looking at C-19 transmission risks associated with singing and playing wind instruments. The PERFORM study involves leading scientists and is working with musicians and representatives from the Royal Opera House and the BBC. Its findings will inform our guidance and approach. that we want to get the performing arts industry fully up and running as soon as it is safe to do so.

Swimming Pools: Coronavirus

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department plans to take to allow private swimming pools that are available for public hire to reopen safely as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions re eased.

Nigel Huddleston: Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. As announced on 9 July, from 11 July, outdoor swimming pools will be able to open and from 25 July indoor gyms, leisure centres (including sports halls) and swimming pools in England should be able to reopen. These facilities will be able to offer on-site services to customers, provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance. The updated guidance can be found at the GOV.UK website and includes advice for providers of pool, gym and leisure facilities on cleaning, social distancing, and protection for staff to help venues get back up and running safely.

Casinos: Coronavirus

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with (a) the casino industry and (b) trade organisations on establishing safe working practices to enable casinos in Blackpool to reopen.

Nigel Huddleston: DCMS officials are in regular contact with Public Health England and the casino sector to discuss the protections that are needed to allow casinos to reopen safely. This includes arranging a visit for senior public health representatives to assess the measures which are in place. I have spoken with representatives of the sector about the impacts of closure, and the government is working to ensure casinos can open as soon as the medical and scientific advice is that it is safe to do so.

LGBT People: Coronavirus

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with representatives from LGBT (a) entertainment venues and (b) trade bodies in relation to establishing safe working practices to ensure that those venues in (i) England and (ii) Blackpool can reopen safely as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Caroline Dinenage: We are committed to reopening creative businesses, including LGBT entertainment and music venues, in Blackpool and across the country in line with the latest Government regulations and advice. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has set out a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts and live entertainment sectors back up and running as soon as possible. The ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group was established to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce. It focuses on developing covid-19 secure guidance to enable the safe reopening of the performing arts, music and entertainment sectors and is attended by a number of trade bodies including the Night Time Industries Association, the Music Venue Trust and the Live Comedy Association.

Theatres: Coronavirus

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's recently announced support for cultural, arts and heritage institutions, which body will be responsible for ensuring that small provincial theatres receive that funding; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: On 5 July, DCMS announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of sectors, including performing arts and theatres, museums and galleries, heritage sites, live music venues and independent cinema. This money will be spent across England, and we want it to benefit local communities across the country. The funds will be delivered by Arts Council England, Historic England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund working with the National Lottery Memorial Fund. Further details, including eligibility and application processes, will be released later in July.

Digital Technology

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to (a) publish a long-term, costed strategy on closing the digital divide and (b) make that strategy available for consultation.

Caroline Dinenage: I announced last month that the government will be publishing a new digital strategy in the Autumn that reflects the new post-COVID reality. This will focus on growth and using tech to power us out of the recession, to drive productivity and to create jobs in all parts of our economy. For the aspirations of this strategy to be delivered successfully, we recognise people will need the capability and confidence to get the most out of an increasingly digital world, and we welcome ideas for the strategy from stakeholders.

Night Clubs: Coronavirus

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether nightclubs will be eligible for funding from the £1.57 billion arts sector support package.

Caroline Dinenage: We appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the night time industries. On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors including some businesses operating in the night time economy. We will publish detailed guidance on eligibility as soon as possible in July. Whilst the Cultural Package is extensive, it cannot support every organisation. There are a number of financial packages available to support nightclubs, including business rates relief, grants, and the Bounceback Loan Scheme. Furthermore, on rent liabilities, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced on 19 June 2020 the introduction of a new code of practice for commercial property, and an extension to temporary tenant protections until 30 September 2020.

Music: Coronavirus

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the eligibility criteria for music venues applying for the £1.57 billion arts sector support funding.

Caroline Dinenage: On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors. We are working closely with DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies to develop detailed guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding. We will publish this guidance as soon as possible in July.

Circuses: Coronavirus

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to allow circuses to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Caroline Dinenage: We are committed to getting the performing arts sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. It is a priority of my department to work with the arts and cultural sectors to address the challenges of reopening. The Secretary of State recently revealed a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running as soon as possible:Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences)Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposesStage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience and pilots for indoor performances with a limited socially-distanced audienceStage Four - Performances allowed indoors and outdoors (but with a limited socially-distanced audience indoors)Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors)On the 11th July, we moved to Stage Three. This means that performances outdoors can take place in line with this guidance. This includes marquees or tented structures where performance occurs in front of a live audience, such as tented circus events. DCMS will work with sector representative bodies to select a number of pilots for indoor performances with a socially distanced audience, as we look to move into Stage Four.

Epilepsy: Internet

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to safeguard people with epilepsy from online harm.

Caroline Dinenage: The government intends to introduce world-leading Online Harms legislation to make the UK the safest place to be online. We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users which will be overseen by an independent regulator. The Government published its Initial Consultation Response to the Online Harms White Paper in February 2020, and this set out our direction of travel on a number of key areas. We are aiming to publish a full government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation later this year, and this will include more detailed proposals on online harms regulation.In addition to this new legislation, it is important to make sure that the criminal law is fit for purpose to deal with online harms. DCMS and the Ministry of Justice have engaged the Law Commission on a second phase of their review of abusive and offensive online communications. This will include considering whether co-ordinated harassment by groups of people online could be more effectively dealt with by the criminal law, whether it is targeted at individuals with epilepsy or others. The Law Commission will review existing communications offences and make specific recommendations about options for reform, to ensure that criminal law provides consistent and effective protection against such behaviour.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Estate: Coronanvirus

Layla Moran: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) securing, (b) heating, and (c) lighting empty offices on the Parliamentary Estate while (a) staff and (b) hon. Members were instructed to work from home due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Pete Wishart: At all times the estate has been kept safe and secure and able to support Parliamentary business as required.It is not possible to provide a specific breakdown of costs relating to empty offices during this period. The following comparison against a similar period last year has been produced. Reductions in usage may not be solely related to Covid-19.  March – May 2019 March – May 2020 Reduction (units) Approx. Reduction (£)Natural Gas kWh 8,560,187 6,670,501 1,889,686 £29,725 Electricity kWh 7,196,453 6,328,062 868,392 £95,459 Water m3 48,313 14,294 34,019 £63,490  £188,674

Prime Minister

Property Development: Isle of Dogs

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions (a) he, (b) his advisers and (d) Departmental officials have had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and his (i) advisers and (ii) Departmental officials on the Westferry Printworks development.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Prime Minister, whether (a) he, (b) his advisers or (c) his Departmental officials have had a discussion with a representative of Thorncliffe Communications on the Westferry Printworks development project.

Boris Johnson: I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 3 June 2020 to Questions 52440, 52441, 52442, 52443, and my answers of 3 June 2020, Official Report, Col 843 and of 17 June 2020, Official Report, Col 802. Neither I nor No10 officials have had contact with the applicant or his representatives in relation to this planning application or appeal.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Hilary Benn: To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to his comments made on a visit to East Yorkshire on 6 July 2020, what procedures were being referred to in relation to care homes not following procedures during the covid-19 outbreak.

Boris Johnson: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to the Leader of the Opposition on 8 July, Official Report, Cols 963 and 964.